Sunlight-assisted activation of peroxymonosulfate using NiFe₂O₄ supported on a 2D g-C₃N₄ nanosheet heterojunction for the degradation of methylene blue in wastewater.
- 1Department of Chemistry, University of Zululand Private Bag X1001 Kwa-Dlangezwa 3886 South Africa [email protected].
- 2Department of Chemistry, GLA University Mathura Uttar Pradesh 281406 India.
- 3Department of Chemistry, University of Lucknow Lucknow-226007 Uttar Pradesh India.
Abstract
This study explores the utilization of a 0D/2D NiFe₂O₄/g-C₃N₄ heterojunction for the photocatalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to degrade methylene blue in wastewater. The NiFe₂O₄/g-C₃N₄ composite was synthesized from 0D NiFe₂O₄ and 2D g-C₃N₄ using wet impregnation and calcination. The NiFe₂O₄/g-C₃N₄ composite was then characterised using various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques and used for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue in the presence of PMS (1 mL, 0.1 M). The NiFe₂O₄/g-C₃N₄ composite showed a higher degradation efficiency of 97% compared to NiFe₂O₄ and g-C₃N₄ alone, which showed 69% and 53%, respectively, after 90 min of degradation. The concentration of PMS was optimized across 0.2 M, 0.4 M and 1.6 M, yielding degradation efficiencies of 99%, 91% and 74%, respectively; this indicates that the highest degradation performance is obtained at 0.2 M. Subsequently, the pH was also optimized, with pH 9 and 11 achieving 100% degradation efficiency. The radical quenching experiments showed that sulfate radicals (SO₄˙⁻) were the dominant reactive oxygen species (ROS) responsible for the degradation of methylene blue. The study showed that NiFe₂O₄/g-C₃N₄ has the potential to be used as a catalyst for PMS activation to degrade organic pollutants in wastewater under light irradiation.
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BibTeX
@article{mkhondwane2026sunlightassisted,
title = {{Sunlight-assisted activation of peroxymonosulfate using NiFe₂O₄ supported on a 2D g-C₃N₄ nanosheet heterojunction for the degradation of methylene blue in wastewater.}},
author = {Siphumelele Thandokwazi Mkhondwane and Yogendra Kumar and Vinod and Viswanadha Srirama Rajasekhar Pullabhotla},
journal = {RSC advances},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1039/d6ra06402g},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42836029},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Sunlight-assisted activation of peroxymonosulfate using NiFe₂O₄ supported on a 2D g-C₃N₄ nanosheet heterojunction for the degradation of methylene blue in wastewater.
AU - Siphumelele Thandokwazi Mkhondwane
AU - Yogendra Kumar
AU - Vinod
AU - Viswanadha Srirama Rajasekhar Pullabhotla
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/05
JO - RSC advances
DO - 10.1039/d6ra06402g
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42836029
AB - This study explores the utilization of a 0D/2D NiFe₂O₄/g-C₃N₄ heterojunction for the photocatalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to degrade methylene blue in wastewater. The NiFe₂O₄/g-C₃N₄ composite was synthesized from 0D NiFe₂O₄ and 2D g-C₃N₄ using wet impregnation and calcination. The NiFe₂O₄/g-C₃N₄ composite was then characterised using various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques and used for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue in the presence of PMS (1 mL, 0.1 M). The NiFe₂O₄/g-C₃N₄ composite showed a higher degradation efficiency of 97% compared to NiFe₂O₄ and g-C₃N₄ alone, which showed 69% and 53%, respectively, after 90 min of degradation. The concentration of PMS was optimized across 0.2 M, 0.4 M and 1.6 M, yielding degradation efficiencies of 99%, 91% and 74%, respectively; this indicates that the highest degradation performance is obtained at 0.2 M. Subsequently, the pH was also optimized, with pH 9 and 11 achieving 100% degradation efficiency. The radical quenching experiments showed that sulfate radicals (SO₄˙⁻) were the dominant reactive oxygen species (ROS) responsible for the degradation of methylene blue. The study showed that NiFe₂O₄/g-C₃N₄ has the potential to be used as a catalyst for PMS activation to degrade organic pollutants in wastewater under light irradiation.
SN - 2046-2069
ER -