Photocatalytic dye degradation by magnetic XFe2O3 (X: Co, Zn, Cr, Sr, Ni, Cu, Ba, Bi, and Mn) nanocomposites under visible light: A cost efficiency comparison

•A series of magnetic photo catalysts with general formula XFe2O3 (X = Co, Zn, Cr, Sr, Ni, Cu, Ba, Bi and Mn) were synthesized.•The magnetic susceptibility measurements showed that these XFe2O3 nanocomposites are ferromagnetic at room temperature.•We tested their efficacy for photocatalytic dye (Methylene Blue) degradation under visible light irradiation and found that they can all be active at different pHs.•A comparison of their relative cost and catalytic activity was plotted and BaFe2O3, MnFe2O3 and ZnFe2O3 were found to be the best magnetic photocatalysts.