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Starch-assisted sol–gel synthesis of magnetic CuFe2O4 powder as photo-Fenton catalysts in the presence of oxalic acid

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Abstract

Magnetic photo-Fenton catalysts based on spinel CuFe2O4 were successfully prepared by the starch-assisted sol–gel method. Various synthetic conditions such as annealing temperatures (700, 800 and 900 °C) and molar ratios of Cu2+/Fe3+/C6H10O5 in the precursor solution (from 1:2:2 to 1:2:4) were, respectively, used in order to study the influences of annealing temperatures and precursor starch contents on the magnetic and catalytic properties of CuFe2O4 powders. The photo-Fenton catalytic activity was evaluated via the degradation of methylene blue under ultraviolet and visible irradiation with H2C2O4 as a new oxidizing agent. According to the results, when the annealing temperature increased to 800 °C, the spinel CuFe2O4 phase amount was increased, which strongly enhances the photo-Fenton catalytic performance. However, above 800 °C, the catalytic activity was reduced, due to the increase in particle size. The starch content also affected the surface Cu2+ content and the particle size of catalysts. The catalyst prepared at 800 °C with the molar Cu2+/Fe3+/C6H10O5 ratio of 1:2:3 presented the best photo-Fenton performance, owing to its highest surface Cu2+ content. This catalyst also exhibits ferromagnetic properties (saturation magnetization of 25.836 emu/g and coercivity of 1010.23 Oe), which allows them to be easily separated from the solution by a magnet.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to appreciate all who assisted in this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Science – Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, 227 Nguyen Van Cu Street, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Thi Thao Dinh, To Quyen Nguyen, Gia Co Quan, Vo Dong Nghi Nguyen, Hon Quoc Tran & Tien Khoa Le

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  1. Thi Thao Dinh
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  2. To Quyen Nguyen
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  3. Gia Co Quan
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  4. Vo Dong Nghi Nguyen
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  5. Hon Quoc Tran
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  6. Tien Khoa Le
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Correspondence to Tien Khoa Le.

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Editorial responsibility: M. Abbaspour.

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Dinh, T.T., Nguyen, T.Q., Quan, G.C. et al. Starch-assisted sol–gel synthesis of magnetic CuFe2O4 powder as photo-Fenton catalysts in the presence of oxalic acid. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 14, 2613–2622 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-017-1343-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-017-1343-x

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