Recyclable Nano-Magnetic CoFe2O4: a Photo-Fenton Catalyst for Efficient Degradation of Reactive Blue 19

Global industrialization has led to a pressing concern of water pollution from refractory reactive dyes. Among Advanced oxidation processes, the Fenton photocatalyst, particularly cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4), is gaining attention due to its advantages, including stability, visible light utilization, recyclability, cost-effectiveness, and light corrosion resistance. This study investigates the synthesis and application of cobalt ferrite magnetic nanoparticles (CFNs) as a Fenton-like catalyst for degrading Reactive Blue 19 (RB19) dye under UV irradiation. CFNs were characterized using XRD, SEM, and VSM techniques. The photo degradation of RB19 was assessed under various conditions, including catalyst dosage, oxidant amount, RB19 concentration, and pH. The maximum removal efficiency of RB19 was achieved as 97.3% for synthetic wastewater under the optimal conditions of pH 3, CoFe2O4 dosage (1.5 g/L), reaction time = 60 min, and H2O2 (80 mM) in the presence of UV radiation (18 W) at the ambient room temperature of 22 °C. The results revealed that the CFNs exhibited high stability, reusability, and catalytic activity. Moreover, the mineralization studies indicated significant removal rates for both RB19 and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The findings suggest the promising application of CFNs in advanced wastewater treatment processes.