Designing of stable copper ferrite-doped metal–organic framework heterostructure for improved visible light-induced photodegradation of 4-nitrophenol in water

M. Bilal, K. Javed, N. Abbas, S. Mahmood, S. Iqbal, K. M. Alotaibi, M. Alshalwi

Research output: Journal PublicationArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

In this study, a copper ferrite (CuF) and cobalt metal–organic framework (CM) composite CuF@CM, was developed via hydrothermal method. The prepared CuF, Co-MOF, and CuF@CM (1:1) composite was characterized by various techniques such as field-emission scanning electron microscope, EDX, X-ray diffraction, BET and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared. The catalytic activity of synthesized CuF, Co-MOF, and CuF@CM composites was examined by photodegradation of 4-nitrophenol [4-NP] as a model pollutant under visible light irradiation. The catalytic improvement was achieved by carefully adjusting the mass ratios of CuF to Co-MOF. Among synthesized materials CuF, Co-MOF, and various CuF@CM composites having 1:2, 1:1, and 2:1 weight ratio (CuF:CM), the CuF@CM (1:1) showed exceptional photocatalytic activity in the degradation of 4-NP. Experimental results revealed that the band gap energy (Eg) of CuF@CM (1:1) was 2.2 eV. CuF@CM (1:1) composite achieved 96% efficiency (with a quantum yield of 1.47 × 10–5 molecules photon−1) to degrade 10 ppm of 4-NP solution (75 min reaction time, pH 6, at 25 ℃, and light intensity of 50-W). Kinetics studies showed that photodegradation of 4-NP by CuF@CM (1:1) followed a first-order reaction rate (R2 = 0.972). The synthesized CuF@CM (1:1) nanomaterial also demonstrated superior antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in visible light as compared to dark. Furthermore, the synthesized CuF@CM (1:1) nanomaterial could be reused at least five times without a significant decrease in its photocatalytic activity.

Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Science and Technology
DOIs
Publication statusAccepted/In press - 2024

Keywords

  • 4-Nitrophenol
  • Co-MOF composite
  • Copper ferrite
  • Photocatalysis
  • Wastewater treatment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

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