Preparation of magnetic composite photocatalyst Bi2WO6/CoFe2O4by two-step hydrothermal method and itsphotocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A

• Bi2WO6/CoFe2O4 was synthesized by a two-step hydrothermal method.
• CoFe2O4 plays as the magnetic core in the composite of Bi2WO6/CoFe2O4.
• Bi2WO6/CoFe2O4 displayed efficient photocatalytic activity to BPA as pure Bi2WO6.
• The composites could be easily separated from the reaction solution by a magnet.

Easily separable magnetic photocatalyst Bi2WO6/CoFe2O4 was synthesized by a two-step hydrothermal method. Pure spinel CoFe2O4 in nano-scale was prepared by a hydrothermal method, which was followed by a second hydrothermal process to coat CoFe2O4 with Bi2WO6. The prepared Bi2WO6/CoFe2O4 kept the magnetic property of CoFe2O4 and high efficient photocatalytic activity of Bi2WO6 as well. The photoactivity of Bi2WO6/CoFe2O4 (mass ratio 10:1) to degrade bisphenol A (BPA) was close to that of pure Bi2WO6 after 120 min of simulated solar light irradiation. After reaction, the catalyst particles could be easily harvested from the suspension by applying an external magnetic field.