Dye removal from aqueous solutions by sono-fenton process using magnetite nanoparticles

The removal of Basic Violet 10 (BV10), a cationic dye, from aqueous solutions by heterogeneous sono-Fenton process over the nano-sized magnetite(Fe3O4)catalyst prepared by the milling of micro sized magnetite using high energy planetary ball milling process was aimed. The magnetite samples after and before ball milling operation were characterized by means of the X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Brunauer-Emmett- Teller (BET) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis methods. The catalytic activity of the ball milled magnetite sample enhanced in parallel with the improvements in the its physicochemical properties and ball milled magnetite of 6 h demonstrated the highest catalytic activity in BV10 degradation by heterogeneous sono-Fenton process. Effect of experimental parameters involving pH, catalyst amount, hydrogen peroxide concentration, ultrasonic power and initial BV10 concentration on the decolorization efficiency of BV10 were investigated. The optimum conditions for the BV10 removal efficiency was found to be pH value of 3, catalyst dosage of 1,5 gL-1, hydrogen peroxide concentration of 36 mM, ultrasonic power of 450W and initial BV10 concentration of 30 mgL-1. The removal efficiency of BV10 was 75.94% at this conditions after reaction time of 120 min. The trapping experiments revealed that radicals are the dominant oxidative species, but O_2^(- ∙)/〖HO〗_2^∙ radicals have also a partly role in BV10 degradation. The results of GC–MS analysis confirmed efficient degradation of BV10 molecules in aqueous solution during the process.