Synthesis of BixOyClz/rGO-NiFe2O4 Magnetic Nanophotocatalyst via Hybrid Ultrasound-Solvothermal Route for Elimination of Ofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin Antibiotic Contaminants and Rhodamine B and Acid Orange 7 Color Pollutants from Aqueous Solutions

In this study, BixOyClz/rGO-NiFe2O4 magnetic nanophotocatalyst was synthesized using the hybrid ultrasound-solvothermal method. To compare the BixOyClz/rGO and NiFe2O4 samples were also fabricated. The properties of these nanophotocatalysts were determined using various analyses such as XRD, FESEM, EDX, BET-BJH, DRS and VSM. The results obtained confirmed the correctness of the syntheses. According to the VSM analysis, the saturation magnetization of BixOyClz/rGO-NiFe2O4 nanophotocatalyst was obtained about 3.8 emu/g. Moreover, regarding the BET-BJH results, the total open pore volume and specific surface area of this sample was obtained 0.5 cm3/g and 130 m2/g. Finally, its photocatalytic performance was evaluated in the elimination of the ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, as antibiotic contaminants, and rhodamine B and acid orange 7, as color pollutants. Results indicated the excellent activity of this nanophotocatalyst. So that, after 180 min, the elimination efficiency was gained at about 98.5, 100, 100 and 96.5% for ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, rhodamine B and acid orange 7, respectively. These consequences were devoted the decrease of band gap and increasing the light absorption range, improving the separation and transmission of charge carriers and reducing recombination rate of them increasing the surface absorption of contaminant molecules as a result of the presence of rGO and the proper dispersion of BOC due to using of ultrasound waves and the breaking of clusters and the increment of accessible active sites.