Recent advances in copper ferrite nanoparticles and nanocomposites synthesis, magnetic properties and application in water treatment: Review

In recent years, copper ferrite (CuFe2O4) nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted many researcher's attention due to its potential application in water purification. CuFe2O4 NPs are low-cost magnetic material and stable under different conditions. Consequently, easily recovered from treated water using an external magnetic field and reused for several cycles. In this review, an emphasis was placed on understanding the impacts of certain factors such as synthesis method, calcination temperature, dopant type, pH and crystalline size on the magnetic properties of CuFe2O4 NPs and its nanocomposites (NCs). The application of CuFe2O4 NPs in water treatment and its ability to be combined with other nanomaterials for photocatalysis and adsorption were fully discussed. The possibility of recovery and reuse of CuFe2O4 NPs and its NCs were deliberated. Lastly, the gaps that are still open for research in the fine-tuning of the magnetic properties and other physical properties of CuFe2O4 NPs for its full utilisation in water purification were outlined. Hence, using CuFe2O4 NPs and its NCs at industrial scale for water purification can go a long way in lowering the costs of water, since it utilises visible light as an energy source and due to its ability to be reused several times.