Photocatalytic ozonation of dyes using copper ferrite nanoparticle prepared by co-precipitation method

In this paper, photocatalytic ozonation of dyes with copper ferrite (CuFe2O4) nanoparticle (CF nanoparticle) prepared by co-precipitation method was investigated. Reactive Red 198 (RR198) and Reactive Red 120 (RR120) were used as dye models. The characteristics of CF nanoparticle were studied using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). UV–Vis and ion chromatography (IC) analyses were employed to study of dye degradation. The effect of operational parameters on dye degradation such as CF nanoparticle dosage, pH, dye concentration and salt (inorganic anions) was studied. Formate, acetate and oxalate anions were detected as dominant aliphatic intermediates. Nitrate and sulfate anions were detected as the mineralization products of dyes. Results showed that the dye degradation using photocatalytic ozonation of dyes with CF nanoparticle was a very effective method for dye degradation.

Research highlights
► Photocatalytic ozonation of dyes using copper ferrite (CuFe2O4) nanoparticle.
► Detection of formate, acetate and oxalate as dominant aliphatic intermediates.
► Detection of nitrate and sulfate anions as the mineralization products of dyes.