Photodegradation of naphthalene over Fe 3 O 4 under visible light irradiation

Using FeCl 3 and FeSO 4 as precursors, Fe 3 O 4 were prepared by co-precipitation method via FeCl 3 and FeSO 4 aqueous solutions successively added to NaOH solution. The sample was proved by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscope, ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry and magnetic measurement. The results showed that the prepared Fe 3 O 4 material was composed of an average diameter of about 15 nm particles and nano rods with well-crystallized magnetite and stronger superparamagnetic, getting a saturation magnetization of 49.5 emu g −1 . This Fe 3 O 4 material was found to be an effective catalyst for photodegradation of naphthalene with or without H 2 O 2 under visible light irradiation, getting 81.1% and 74.3% degradation rate in these two cases, respectively. The degradation pathway in the absence and presence of H 2 O 2 was analysed via measurement of the distribution of degradation products by GC-MS and adsorption of reactants on the surface of the catalyst by in situ DRIFTS spectra.