Visible light-driven removal of methylene blue through photocatalytic reaction using CuFe2O4/N-TiO2

CuFe2O4/N-TiO2 photocatalyst was used for the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye under visible light. Various characterisation techniques were performed, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (UV-DRS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and vibrating-sample magnetometry (VSM). UV-DRS results showed a reduced TiO2 bandgap after nitrogen doping and addition of CuFe2O4. The photocatalytic removal of MB was achieved 98.7 % after 180 min irradiation for nitrogen doped TiO2 (N-TiO2). The addition of CuFe2O4 improved the magnetic properties. The optimal composition of 5 % CuFe2O4/N-TiO2, exhibited good magnetic properties and 97.56 % of MB removal efficiency. The 5 % CuFe2O4/N-TiO2 also exhibit maintaining over 90 % of MB removal efficiency across three cycles process. The proposed degradation pathway was presented based on Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrophotometer (LCMS). Based on the obtained results, 5 % CuFe2O4/N-TiO2 can be proposed as photocatalyst for MB removal and its magnetic properties is beneficial for quick separation from the solution after photocatalytic process.