Photocatalytic performance of a nickel ferrite/chitosan/bismuth(III) oxyiodide nanocomposite for metronidazole degradation under simulated sunlight illumination

• Published in: Journal of environmental chemical engineering Vol. 9; no. 4; p. 105619
• Main Authors: Arghavan, Fatemeh Sadat, Al-Musawi, Tariq J., Rumman, Ghaida Abu, Pelalak, Rasool, Khataee, Alireza, Nasseh, Negin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-08-2021
• Subjects: Characterization analyses; Degradation; Degradation by-products; FeNi3/chitosan/BiOI; Metronidazole; Photocatalytic treatment; Degradation; Metronidazole; Characterization analyses; Degradation by-products; Photocatalytic treatment; FeNi3/chitosan/BiOI
• ISSN: 2213-3437; 2213-3437
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2021.105619

Pharmaceutical waste is a source of dangerous pollutants that can be carcinogenic to humans. Therefore, the removal of these residues from wastewater is a priority in environmental engineering. In this study, we evaluated the performance of a FeNi3/chitosan/BiOI nanocomposite as a photocatalyst for metronidazole (MTZ) degradation under simulated sunlight. The morphological and structural properties of the nanocomposite were determined using advanced characterization techniques including X-ray diffractometry, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and vibrating-sample magnetometry analyses. The kinetics of MTZ degradation and the effect of physicochemical parameters such as pH (3–11), reaction time (5–200 min), initial MTZ concentration (10–30 mg/L), and catalyst dosage (0.005–0.1 g/L) on the MTZ degradation process were studied. The applied treatment process achieved 100% MTZ degradation under the following conditions: pH = 7, FeNi3/chitosan/BiOI dose = 0.04 g/L, MTZ concentration = 20 mg/L, and reaction time = 200 min. The used catalyst can be regenerated and reused six times with only slight losses in its activity. The final by-products of MTZ degradation were mineralized products. Therefore, the FeNi3/chitosan/BiOI nanocomposite used in the present study for MTZ removal is a promising practical catalyst.
Graphical representation of the mechanism of photocatalytic degradation of MTZ using the FeNi3/chitosan/BiOI catalyst.
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•Sunlight-driven photocatalytic degradation of metronidazole demonstrated.•FeNi3/chitosan/BiOI nanocomposite prepared and used as photocatalyst.•Nanocomposite acts as effective photocatalyst and is recyclable.•100% metronidazole removal efficiency was achieved under optimum conditions.•Photocatalytic degradation resulted in pollutant mineralization.