Green Synthesized Magnetically Separable Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Efficient Heterogeneous Photo-Fenton Degradation of Dye Pollutants

Abstract

Green synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe NPs) was prepared using Delonix regia flower extract, and their Photo Fenton like oxidation was performed. The synthesized Fe–NPs were characterized using XRD, FESEM, FETEM, FT-IR, and VSM confirmed the formation both of Magnetite (Fe3O4) and Hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanoparticles. The prepared catalyst was used for the photo Fenton like degradation of Methylene blue (MB) and Congo red (CR) dyes. The optimization of various operational parameters, such as the influence of concentration of catalyst, H2O2, initial dye and initial pH was executed. The results showed that under optimum conditions, about 99% decolorization of both MB and CR dye was accomplished within 10 min. The catalyst was removed by an external magnet, and reuse study showed that there is no notable decrease in the efficacy of the catalyst was observed up to five cycles. The results are exemplifying that the biogenic prepared Fe NPs having high potential for the photo-assisted degradation of both MB and CR in the existence of H2O2.