Improved photodegradation of p-nitrophenol from water media using ternary MgFe2O4-doped TiO2/reduced graphene oxide

Abstract Herein, MgFe2O4-doped TiO2/reduced graphene oxide (MFO-TiO2/rGO) was synthesized via the ultrasound-assisted hydrothermal method and directly used for photodegradation p-nitrophenol from water. The characteristics of the catalyst material were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscope, Transmission electron microscopy, Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller specific surface area, thermal gravimetric analysis, and UV–vis spectroscopy. The photodegradation studies via the catalytic recovering property were also investigated with comparing to TiO2/rGO, TiO2, and MFO. The results showed that the MFO and TiO2 nanoparticles were homogeneously distributed on the GO sheet with an average diameter of 5–14 nm. The empirical data indicated a good photocatalytic property under visible light of MFO-TiO2/rGO compared to others with the photodegradation yield 99.53% in 50 min via 40 mg amount of catalysts, 1 mL H2O2 substitution, and a pH of 9. The kinetic studies exhibited that the reaction followed the pseudo-first order with a rate constant of 0.1011 min−1. Besides, it can be easily separated and reused with an insignificant change in photodegradation yield. According to the results, MFO-TiO2/rGO is highly promising for organic contaminant elimination in the effluent for the future wastewater treatment plant.