Ultrasound assisted TiO2@Fe3O4 nanocomposites photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in potato starch processing wastewater

Potato starch industrial wastewater should be treated and discharged after optimization due to the high concentration of organic compounds and heavy pollution load. In this study, Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized by co-precipitation technology, and the TiO2@Fe3O4 nanocomposites were synthesized by ultrasonic chemistry method. The structure and morphology of the nanocomposites were characterized, and the degradation of organic pollutants in potato wastewater by TiO2@Fe3O4 nanocomposites under light conditions were investigated. The results show that TiO2@Fe3O4 nanocomposites can be used to catalyze the degradation of organic pollutants in potato starch industrial wastewater under visible light. Under the optimal conditions, the degradation rates of COD, TOC and TN of potato starch processing wastewater reached 73.60 %, 48.21 % and 14.54 %, and after ultrasonic pretreatment, the degradation rates of COD, TOC and TN of potato wastewater were significantly increased to 82.34 %, 63.63 % and 24.17 %, respectively. This method provides a feasible and efficient purification way for the degradation of organic pollutants in potato starch processing wastewater. The degradation mechanism was discussed through free radical scavenger test. It was found that HO· and H· played a major role in the degradation.