Synthesis of magnetically recoverable ferrite (MFe2O4, M Co, Ni and Fe)-supported TiO2 photocatalysts for decolorization of methylene blue

• Co, Ni and Fe ferrite-supported TiO2 were synthesized by co-precipitation.
• TiO2/MFe2O4 (MCo, Ni, Fe) were magnetically separable from solution.
• TiO2/CoFe2O4 was most effective in photodegradation of methylene blue.
• Efficiency of TiO2 was insignificantly influenced by CoFe2O4 support.

Effects of ferrite materials as supports (CoFe2O4, NiFe2O4, and Fe3O4) on nano-TiO2 were elucidated by their use in the oxidation of methylene blue. These photocatalysts, which were synthesized by co-precipitation, were characterized by XRD, SEM, EDS and VSM. The crystalline phase of TiO2 onto magnetic MFe2O4 was formed by anatase and rutile. TiO2/CoFe2O4 exhibited the strongest magnetic property of the prepared catalysts, and the photocatalytic efficiencies followed the order TiO2/CoFe2O4 > TiO2/NiFe2O4 > TiO2/Fe3O4. MB decolorization was enhanced with the amount of TiO2 on the photocatalyst, and was moderately affected by the extent of structural distortion of ferrite supports.

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