Constructing magnetic separable BiOBr/MnFe2O4 as efficient Z-scheme nanocomposite for visible light-driven degradation of palm oil mill effluent and inactivation of bacteria

Z-scheme BiOBr/MnFe2O4 nanocomposite was successfully prepared by a surfactant-free hydrothermal method. A series of characterizations revealed that the MnFe2O4 nanoparticles were intimately decorated on the BiOBr nanosheets. The as-prepared BiOBr/MnFe2O4 displayed lower charge recombination and higher hydroxyl radical formation rates compared to BiOBr and MnFe2O4. Visible light photocatalytic experimental results showed that the BiOBr/MnFe2O4 possessed excellent performances towards the palm oil mill effluent degradation and Escherichia coli inactivation. The high photoactivity of BiOBr/MnFe2O4 was attributed to the successful establishment of Z-scheme heterojunction between BiOBr and MnFe2O4. Moreover, the BiOBr/MnFe2O4 can easily be recovered using an external magnet and exhibited good repeatability of photoactivity.