Title : fabrication and characterization of Fe3O4–SiO2 composite and evaluation of its activity toward removal of methylene blue and methyle orange from water
Abstract:
Due to biocompatibility, stability, high surface area to volume ratio and superparamagnetic characteristics the magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4 and c-Fe2O3) have gained pioness. Moreover they are nonporous with greater proficiency and are oxidized easily in atmospheric air that affects their magnetic characteristics and dispensability[1]. In order to stabilize magnetic nanoparticles they are functionalized with carbon, noble metals, metal oxides, and chitosan etc. while using different methods. To minimize toxicity, increase stability, biodegradability, and biocompatibility and avoid the aggregation of these particles, silica an inert coating material is employed. The Fe3O4–SiO2 nanocomposite was successfully synthesized via Co-precipitation and stober methods by mixing Ferric chloride hexahydrate (FeCl3.6H20), Ferrous chloride Tetrahydrate (FeCl2.4H20) as Fe3O4 precursors in 2:1 ratio, NH3 solution as a precipitating agent, water as a solvent and TEOS as SiO2 silica precursor. The ratio between Fe3O4 and TEOS was 1:5 and a ratio of 1:1:20:6 of Fe3O4, TEOS, Abs. Ethanol and D.I.W was used in Fe3O4–SiO2 nanocomposite synthesis. The Fe3O4-SiO2 nanocomposites were characterized by using SEM EDX, TEM, XRD, FTIR, etc.
The synthesized nanocomposite Fe3O4-SiO2 was employed for potential environmental applications in the terms of its catalytic/photocatalytic activities toward the degradation of Methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) dyes, in the presence and absence of light, while observing the dye degradation process by UV-Visible spectroscopy. The catalytic efficiency of the same composite was studied and discussed in terms of changes in the chemical structures of dyes and other experimental conditions, such as the presence and absence of light. Moreover, the composite showed 93% and 51% efficiency towards the removal Methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) dyes respectively. The synthesized nanocomposite was applied for the catalytic and photocatalytic applications using the Methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) dyes and compared their efficiency and confirmed that the Methylene blue was degraded faster and showed more catalytic and photocatalytic activity compared to methyl orange using Fe3O4-SiO2 nanocomposite which is a new work. Moreover the antioxidant, activity was also evaluated and they synthesized nanocomposite exhibited better activity.
Key word: Fe3O4–SiO2, catalytic/photocatalytic activity, Antioxidant activity.
Audience take-away:
- As the conference is focusing on catalysis, chemical engineering and technology, therefore, I intend to present that how cheaper and easily fabricated catalyst can be prepared, characterized, and applied for their role in catalysis.
- The audience who are working in the field of chemistry, material chemistry, environmental chemistry, chemical engineering and technology may know more about this nanocomposite material and will help them to refresh their knowledge from the academic and applied point of view.
- Yes of course, this will help them to expand their teaching/research. In other words they can use this composite by doping with various nanomaterials (semiconductors metals, polymers etc.) and can be applied for potential catalytic and environmental applications
- Yes surely why not, due to this the researcher will be able to design more and more projects in the field and will easily remove the hurdles of a problem. Especially the people who are working in the chemical/environmental engineering and technology.
- Yes it will bring about amendment in designing and will also leads to modifications in the previous design after clearly understanding the fundamental of the nanocomposite based catalysts. The role of light in the terms of quality and quantity used in photocatalysis can also be explored.
