Abstract

CoFe2O4 nanoparticles with band gap of 1.5 eV have excellent magnetic properties but poor catalytic degradation of Acid Blue (AB113) under ambient conditions due to the rapid recombination of electronic charges. To prevent the rapid recombination of electronic charges and to preserve magnetic properties exhibited by CoFe2O4 nanoparticles, in this study a non-magnetic counterpart (TiO2) was engineered by low-frequency ultrasound (40 kHz) assisted processes. Properties of the materials were characterized using XRD, Raman, STEM-HAADF, VSM, and DR-UV-Vis analyses which confirms the lattice substitution of Ti4+ by Co2+ and Fe3+ in the anatase crystal structure. TEM analysis reveals the enhanced d-spacing values for anatase (1 0 1) crystal plane when the value are compared for TiO2 (0.35 nm) and CoFe2O4/TiO2 (0.38 nm) which confirms the lattice substitution of Co2+ and Fe3+ and/or CoFe2O4 nanocatalysts. The optical band gap was increased from 1.5 eV (CoFe2O4) to 2.63 eV (CoFe2O4/TiO2). The magnetic nanocomposites demonstrated enhanced sonocatalytic rate {(CoFe2O4/TiO2 = 6.026 x 10(-4) s(-1)) and (TiO2 = 2.135 x 10(-4) s(-1))} and magnetic properties. Heterogeneous sonocatalytic activation of peroxomonosulphate (PMS) validated similar to 1.6-fold enhanced rate of mineralization of AB113 in the presence of CoFe2O4/TiO2 nanocatalysts. Besides, CoFe2O4/TiO2 nanocatalysts were found to be more stable during the re-utilization up to six consecutive cycles in the sonocatalytic processes. A suitable mechanism was proposed for sonocatalytic degradation of AB 113 in the presence of CoFe2O4/TiO2 magnetic nanocomposites.