Synthesis of Fe 3 O 4 /Pr-BiOCl/Luffa composites with enhanced visible light photoactivity for organic dyes degradation

Abstract Fe 3 O 4 /Pr-BiOCl/Luffa (FPBL) composites were successfully prepared for the first time via a two-step synthesis method. The composites were characterized by a number of techniques including XRD, FTIR, SEM, DRS, BET, XPS, PL, UV–vis and VSM. The photocatalytic activity of FPBL was further evaluated through the photodegradation efficiency of Rhodamine B (RhB). Almost all RhB was removed after 120 min visible light irradiation in the present of the FPBL. The effects of dose and pH were also studied, and the best performance was achieved at pH 6 while the dose of as-prepared photocatalyst was 1.0 g/L. The as-prepared photocatalyst can be magnetically recycled, and it maintained high photocatalytic activity after six-cycle of photodegradation. The free radical trapping experiments demonstrated that the holes (h + ) and electrons (e − ) were two main active species in the photocatalytic degradation of RhB. This work suggests the Fe 3 O 4 /Pr-BiOCl/Luffa composites are promising photocatalysts for organic pollutant degradation.