Enhanced photodegradation of reactive dyes in textile effluent with CoFe2O4/g-CN heterostructure-mediated peroxymonosulphate activation

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) was employed as a sacrificial substructure and two-dimensional support to develop magnetic cobalt ferrite-carbon nitride (CoFe2O4/g-CN) composite via a one-step solid combustion method. The catalyst activated peroxymonosulphate (PMS), through the interconversion of Co2 + /3+|(surf.) and Fe2 + /3+|(surf.) on its surface for degradation of reactive dyes (RDs). Excellent ferromagnetic nature (44.15 emu g(-1)) of the catalyst led to its efficient magnetic separation. With an optimum catalyst and PMS dose of 0.4 g L-1 and 1.5 g L-1, 99% RD removal was achieved for textile effluent (pH 9.5-10), under UV irradiation (48 W). In-depth radical scavenging experiments and EPR analysis confirmed the dominance of radical-based degradation process. Plausible degradation and mineralization pathways of RDs were proposed through identification of intermediates by LCMS/MS analysis. In brief, this study elucidates an exclusive strategy towards the use of g-C3N4 as fuel for facile synthesis of magnetic CoFe2O4/g-CN as a remarkable photocatalyst for activation of PMS towards mineralization of various industrially relevant RDs.

Automated summary

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) was used as a sacrificial substructure and two-dimensional support to synthesize magnetic CoFe2O4/g-CN composite via a one-step solid combustion method. The composite exhibited excellent magnetic separation and photocatalytic degradation of reactive dyes (RDs) under UV irradiation. Radical-based degradation was confirmed as the dominant mechanism, and the degradation and mineralization pathways of RDs were proposed through LCMS/MS analysis.