Spinel ferrites/metal oxide nanocomposites for waste water treatment

Spinel ferrites (MFe2O4, M divalent metallic ion) and their nanocomposites with specific metallic oxides (ZnO, TiO2, CeO2) have attracted the interest of researchers for studying the decontamination of wastewater using photocatalysts, due to the fact MFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) are stable and handy to separate after being used due to its incredible magnetic behavior. With this background, the latest growth on photocatalytic performances of MFe2O4-based binary nanocomposites have been comprehensively revised. Particularly, a much interest rising on MFe2O4/metal NPs, MFe2O4/metal oxides, MFe2O4/polymers, MFe2O4/carbon-based materials, and MFe2O4/other compounds for the photocatalytic decomposition of dyes. In this review, nanocomposites of MFe2O4 as photocatalysts are discussed in detail. This review paper has explained the advantageous pathway for the generation of free radicals with the help of these catalysts in the presence of visible and UV light. This review sums up that MFe2O4-based nanocomposites with metal oxide have valuable application in purification of water. Nevertheless, their sensible consumption in wastewater treatment plants still needs additional studies.

Automated summary

This paper comprehensively reviews the research interest in MFe2O4 and its nanocomposites with specific metal oxides (ZnO, TiO2, CeO2) for decontamination of wastewater using photocatalysts. The stable and easily separable magnetic behavior of MFe2O4 nanoparticles make them attractive for this application. The paper discusses the advantageous pathway for the generation of free radicals with the help of MFe2O4-based nanocomposites as photocatalysts.