Comparative photocatalytic degradation of dyes in wastewater using solar enhanced iron oxide (Fe2O3) nanocatalysts prepared by chemical and microwave methods

This study involves comparing the different morphologies and photocatalytic activity of iron oxides (Fe2O3) nanoparticles synthesized by using the chemical heating method and microwave-assisted method. Characterization of the synthesized iron oxides nanoparticles was carried out using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized Fe2O3 nanoparticles on the degradation of two different hazardous dyes (Murexide and Eriochrome Black-T (EBT)) was investigated. The microwave synthesized Fe2O3-nanoparticles gave the highest degradation efficiency towards Murexide (98%) and EBT (96%) dyes at 25 mg loading and 40 mins exposure time, while chemically synthesized Fe2O3 nanoparticles gave the highest degradation efficiency (15.2%) at 5 mg loading and 30 mins sunlight exposure time in Murexide dye. The highest degradation efficiency of the chemically synthesized Fe2O3 nanoparticles in EBT (21.4%) was obtained with 15 mg catalyst loading after 40 min exposure time. The study, therefore, concluded that the microwave synthesized nanoparticles would be preferred to the chemical method for the treatment of industrial wastewater containing organic dyes such as EBT and Murexide dyes.