Abstract
PURPOSE: The present study aimed to investigate the efficiency of CoFe(2)O(4)/SiO(2)/flower-like MnO(2) nanoparticles as a catalyst for Cr (VI) adsorption-photocatalytic processes. METHODS: The magnetic nanocomposite used was first synthesized and then characterized using TEM, SEM, EDX, XRD, FTIR, XRF and BET advanced techniques. The removal of the Cr (VI) was performed through a batch adsorption approach and the effects of sample pH (A; 2-6), initial chromate concentration (B; 50-100 ppm) and adsorbent weight to sample volume ratio (C; 1-3 mg ml(-1)), hole scavenger (0.1 -0.3%w/v) and time (E; 30-60 min), to evaluate the individual and interactive effects under ultraviolet light conditions, were also studied by the central composite design in the photocatalytic process of adsorption. RESULTS: The adsorption-photocatalytic performance of the CoFe(2)O(4)/SiO(2)/MnO(2) composite was high in which 98.1% of Cr(VI) after 30 min of photocatalytic treatment in optimum conditions (i.e. pH = 3, catalyst concentration = 2 mg L(-1), Cr(VI) concentration = 200 mg L(-1), and hole scavenger concentration = 0.4% (w/ v), At laboratory temperature, speed = 400 rpm, under UV radiation).Under optimum conditions, Cr(VI) reductive followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and followed the Langmuir and Temkin isotherms, also, positive value of ΔH° indicates endothermic nature. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that the synthesized CoFe(2)O(4)/SiO(2)/MnO(2) magnetic nanocomposite holds a great potential for use as a photocatalyst to remove Cr (VI) in adsorption reactions. It can be used as an effective catalyst in the eradication of Cr (VI) wastewater. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40201-021-00763-1.