Preparation and characterization of nano-spherical CoFe2O4 supported on copper slag as a catalyst for photocatalytic degradation of 2-nitrophenol in water

Abstract

In this research, new catalyst prepared by supporting CoFe2O4 on copper slag (CS) and characterization of this catalyst was done with using scanning electron microscopy image, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, BET surface area, and X-ray diffraction patterns. UV + H2O2 processes by CoFe2O4/CS as a photocatalyst was used for degradation of 2-nitrophenol (2NP) as a pollutant in water. Response surface methodology in the Basis of a three-variable Box–Behnken design was applied to determine the effect of pH values (4, 7 and 10), concentration of 2-nitrophenol (10, 20 and 30 ppm), and concentration of H2O2 (30, 60 and 90 ppm) on the levels of response and optimized these operational parameters. The optimal conditions were determined as pH = 10, concentration of 2-nitrophenol = 10 ppm, and concentration of H2O2 = 90 ppm. Degradation efficiency in optimal condition was 96.55%.