Synthesis of Fe3O4/Bi2WO6 nanohybrid for the photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceutical ibuprofen under solar light

Magnetic Fe3O4/Bi2WO6 nanohybrids were prepared via a two-step approach. Fe3O4 nanospheres were synthesized using a solvothermal method in polyol media and Bi2WO6 nanocrystals were formed by the subsequent hydrothermal process. In the preparation process of Bi2WO6 nanoparticles, tungstophosphoric acid hydrate (H3PW12O40) was used as an acidic agent. The activity of the photocatalyst was evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of ibuprofen (IBP) from an aqueous solution with solar light. The as-prepared nanohybrid, which could be easily recovered by a magnet, showed high efficiency in photocatalytic degradation of IBP, especially at pH=4.7. (C) 2017 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.