Abstract
•CS/CoFe2O4 nanocomposites were synthesized via γ-irradiation cross-linking method with the aid of sonication.•It can degrade 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) under sunlight irradiationt.•The degradation kinetics fit well Langmuir–Hinshelwood rate law.•The degradation of (2-CP) follows pseudo-first-order kinetics.•The catalyst can be separated by an external magnetic field.•Cyclic degradation tests show the catalyst is highly active, stable and recoverable.
Photocatalytic degradation of 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) was studied using the photocatalyst chitosane/CoFe2O4 nanocomposite (CS/CF) under visible light. CS/CF nanocomposites were synthesized via gamma irradiation cross-linking method with the aid of sonication. Physical characteristics of CS/CF were studied using infrared spectrophotometer (IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy. Their photocatalytic activity was tested for the degradation of 2-CP in aqueous medium using sunlight. The effect of different parameters such as catalyst concentration, 2-CP concentration and reaction pH on degradation was also examined. It was verified that the 2-CP degradation rate fits a pseudo-first-order kinetics for initial 2-CP concentrations between 25 and 100mg/l, at 30°C. The degradation kinetics fit well Langmuir–Hinshelwood rate law. The degradation of (2-CP) follows pseudo-first-order kinetics. Results showed that after the catalyst had been used 5 times repeatedly, the degradation rate was still above 80%.