Strontium hexaferrite microspheres: Synthesis, characterization and visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of methylene blue dye

Methylene blue (MB) is a cationic dye that is utilized in many industrial applications and produces wastewater that leads to water pollution. Hence, in the present study, M-type magnetic strontium hexaferrite (SrFe12O19) microspheres were prepared using the chemical co-precipitation method and used as a magnetic photocatalyst to degrade the MB dye solution. The prepared SrFe12O19 photocatalyst was characterized using various physico-chemical techniques. The SrFe12O19 microspheres showed 90.2% of degradation efficiency towards the photo-catalytic degradation of MB dye. Further, the as-synthesized photocatalyst has proved to have superior recycling ability without any changes in the phase of the photocatalyst up to three cycles. These findings showed the SrFe12O19 microspheres could be a potential photocatalyst for the degradation of MB dye in industrial waste-water treatment processes.

Automated summary

In this study, M-type magnetic strontium hexaferrite microspheres were prepared and used as a magnetic photocatalyst for the degradation of methylene blue dye. The prepared SrFe12O19 photocatalyst showed a degradation efficiency of 90.2% towards the MB dye. Furthermore, the as-synthesized photocatalyst exhibited superior recycling ability without any phase changes up to three cycles. These findings suggest that SrFe12O19 microspheres could be a potential photocatalyst for the degradation of MB dye in industrial wastewater treatment processes.