Magnetic recyclable CuFe2O4/rGO nanocomposite for the degradation of tetracycline under sunlight irradiation

BACKGROUND: During the past several decades, photocatalytic activity by ferrite nanomaterials has beenwidely interested in environmental remediation. Magnetically recyclable CuFe2O4/rGO nanocompositewith different graphene oxide contentswas prepared by hydrothermal method, and the photodegradation performance of this nanocomposite was studied under sunlight irradiation. RESULTS: The magnetic property of the nanocomposite showed a high magnetic saturation with super-paramagnetic nature, leading to an additional use for catalysts aside from pollutant suspension and recyclable. The experimental results showed that the CuFe2O4/rGO (10 wt.%) nanocomposite had the best photocatalytic activity in tetracycline (TC) degradation, and its photocatalytic degradation rate was 1.55 and 1.85 times higher than those of CuFe2O4/rGO15 and CuFe2O4/rGO20 under sunlight irradiation in 160 min. CONCLUSIONS: This considerable enhancement in performance was mainly due to the formation of the CuFe2O4/rGO nanocomposite, which promoted effective charge carrier separation and delayed the recombination process. The possible photodegradation mechanism of the nanocomposite was revealed based on the energy levels and active radical scavenger experiments. The superoxide radical was the main reaction species, thus confirming the TC degradation mechanism. The enhanced photocatalytic performance of CuFe2O4/rGO nanocomposite has attracted attention for its use as a potential candidate for the degradation of organic pollutants. (c) 2023 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).