Research Projects

Industrial pollutants such as dyes, pesticides, antibiotics, and phenols are becoming major sources of aquatic contamination. Various catalytic removal techniques have been studied, but none provide cost-effective and mild conditions for removing water pollutants. Photocatalysis is a promising cost-effective technique for reducing organic pollutants without producing secondary pollutants. MoO₃ and magnetic metal ferrites nanostructures have shown photocatalytic properties, but their efficiency is diminished under visible light due to a wide band gap. Combining MoO₃ with other semiconductors like spinel ferrites can enhance their efficiency. Composite ferrites have shown enhanced degradation efficiency of chemicals under visible light. The proposed study proposes the preparation and characterization of nano crystalline MoO₃/metal ferrites supported by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) composites at different proportions to tune the band gap of materials. The composites exhibit magnetic and dielectric properties, while CNT is a good catalyst support and has good adsorbtion properties. These properties will help the composite show high efficiency in photocatalysis of pollutants. The study investigates the catalytic efficiency of synthesized nano catalysts towards the degradation of priority pollutants, antibiotics, and dyes. The magnetic property of ferrites allows for easy recovery of the retained catalyst, allowing for reusability in multiple cycles after reaction. This makes the catalyst a "greener" catalyst, reducing the need for additional purification techniques.