Functionalization of Fe₃O₄/TiO₂/BiOCl nanocomposites using Sargassum crassifolium extract as magnetic nanophotocatalyst for cadmium sequestration

We report on the synthesis of Fe₃O₄/TiO₂/BiOCl nanocomposites using Sargassum crassifolium extract as magnetic nanophotocatalyst for cadmium sequestration. Utilization of nanotechnology via surface engineering and functionalization has been considered for heavy metals sequestration. In this work, we are going to synthesize Fe₃O₄/TiO₂/BiOCl nanocomposites via green synthesis for cadmium heavy metal sequestration on wastewater. Synthesis of nanocomposites includes the fabrication of functionalized Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles using Sargassum crassifolium extract followed by the fabrication of TiO₂ and finally capped with BiOCl to complete the Fe₃O₄/TiO₂/BiOCl nanocomposites. Experimental results revealed that successful green synthesis of magnetic Fe₃O₄ via was observed in the Fast Fourier transform infrared spectra with the presence of Fe-O vibrations at 580 cm⁻¹. In addition, the band around 1000 cm⁻¹ was observed suggesting the TiO₂ was successfully formed the peak around 1155 cm⁻¹ can be attributed to Bi-Cl bond for the formation of BiOCl. Moreover, the presence of 370 nm peak in the ultraviolet-visible spectra suggests that Fe₃O₄/TiO₂/BiOCl nanocomposites were successfully synthesized. Varied amount of cadmium on wastewater was efficiently sequestered via photocatalysis with an efficiency of about 83%. This straight forward green synthesis of Fe₃O₄/TiO₂/BiOCl nanocomposites is a potential photocatalysts for cadmium sequestration. (paper)