Enhanced sonophoto-catalytic and adsorption capabilities of Fe3O4@MC/MWCNT-CuO/Ag for petrochemical organic pollutants degradation from industrial process streams

Abstract

To address the problem of petrochemical organic pollutants in water, specifically monoethylene glycol (MEG) present in industrial process streams, in this research, we synthesized and evaluated a multifunctional nanocomposite, Fe₃O₄@MC/MWCNT-CuO/Ag. The nanocomposite was produced by combining magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, methylcellulose (MC), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and CuO/Ag nanoparticles by an integrated synthesis process. A consistent dispersion of nanoparticles, with diameters ranging from 30-40 nm, was discovered by FESEM analysis, showing effective integration without aggregation. Effective synthesis was demonstrated by well-doped and evenly dispersed CuO and Ag nanoparticles. Functional groups that improve electrostatic interactions with contaminants hence enhancing catalytic performance and adsorption efficiency, were validated by FTIR analysis. XRD indicated an unchanged crystal structure with an average crystallite size of 8.67 nm. The anticipated elemental composition was verified by EDS & mapping. A VSM study revealed magnetic characteristics (9.33 emu/g) that simplify nanocomposite separation and reuse. TGA proved thermal stability to be up to 600 °C. A BET study showed a highly specific surface area of 67.661 m²/g, enhancing adsorption. According to DRS and PL studies, the bandgap was lowered by 1.31 eV, which led to better optical absorption. The nanocomposite exhibited notable MEG removal efficiency, with 72 % in adsorption, 65 % in photocatalysis, and 56 % in sonocatalysis. This makes it a promising alternative for the remediation of organic pollutants in water treatment.