Structural, Optical, and Isothermic Studies of CuFe2O4 and Zn‐Doped CuFe2O4 Nanoferrite as a Magnetic Catalyst for Photocatalytic Degradation of Direct Red 264 Under Visible Light Irradiation

Cu and Zn‐doped Cu ferrites were synthesized by sol–gel auto‐combustion method. The samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, EDX, VSM, FT‐IR, and DRS methods. Powder XRD analysis and FT‐IR spectroscopy confirmed the formation of ferrites spinel phase. The crystallite sizes were calculated using Scherrer's equation. The morphologies and sizes of the synthesized nanoparticles have been observed by scanning electron microscopy. The saturation magnetization (MS) is obtained from VSM data. The energy band gaps were calculated from UV–DRS absorption data. Removal of Direct Red 264 was carried out by CuFe 2 O 4 and Zn‐doped CuFe 2 O 4 as catalysts under a visible lamp. The kinetic and isothermic analysis of photocatalytic degradation was studied. © 2019 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 38:e13109, 2019