Magnetic and catalytic properties of cubic copper ferrite nanopowders synthesized from secondary resources

Cubic copper ferrite CuFe2O4 nanopowders have been synthesized via a hydrothermal route using industrial wastes. The synthesis conditions were systematically studied using statistical design (Box–Behnken Program) and the optimum conditions were determined. The results revealed that single phase of cubic copper ferrite powders can be obtained at different temperatures from 100 to 200 °C for times from 12 to 36 h with pH values 8–12. The crystallite size of the produced powders was in the range between 24.6 and 51.5 nm. The produced copper ferrite powders were appeared as a homogeneous pseudo-cubic-like structure. A high saturation magnetization (Ms 83.7 emu/g) was achieved at hydrothermal temperature 200 °C for 24 h and pH 8. Photocatalytic degradation of the methylene blue dye using copper ferrite powders produced at different conditions was investigated. A good catalytic efficiency was 95.9% at hydrothermal temperature 200 °C for hydrothermal time 24 h at pH 12 due to high surface area (118.4 m2/g).