Photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol in water using CoFe2O4/rGO nanocomposites

Abstract

In this study, a catalytic system for water treatment has been developed and employed for 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) degradation in water. The system includes cobalt ferrite nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide (CoFe2O4/rGO) as a heterogeneous catalyst, peroxymonosulfate (PMS) as an oxidant, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation as an energy source. The morphology, structure, crystallinity, and elemental composition of CoFe2O4/rGO were determined using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy((FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). HPLC results showed that the CoFe2O4/rGO nanocomposite exhibited the highest catalytic activity towards 2,4-DCP degradation in the presence and absence of UV radiation. Under UV irradiation, the CoFe2O4/rGO showed remarkable 2,4-DCP removal efficiency of 100% in 10 minutes with an initial 2,4-DCP concentration of 50 mg/L, 0.5 g/L PMS dosage, and 0.1 g/L catalyst loading. While in dark reaction conditions, CoFe2O4/rGO showed almost 90% degradation in 60 minutes. Furthermore, the initial concentration of 2,4-DCP, catalyst loading, PMS dosage, and initial pH were found to be crucial parameters in the catalytic degradation processes. The 2,4-DCP degradation rate was significantly enhanced by increasing the PMS dosage, increasing the catalyst loading, or decreasing the 2,4-DCP concentration. Additionally, CoFe2O4/rGO was successfully regenerated and reused for five degradation cycles. The kinetic studies revealed that the 2,4-dichlorophenol catalytic degradation followed second-order kinetics.

Date of Award	May 2022
Original language	American English