Preparation of the photocatalyst (CaTiO3/Fe3O4) and study of its effectiveness in the degradation of Dimethoate

Abstract

In this study, a CaTiO₃/Fe₃O₄ (CF) composite photocatalyst was successfully synthesized in the laboratory using the solvothermal method. The catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) to confirm the formation of crystalline phases, and its specific surface area was measured using the (BET) method. The photocatalytic performance of the CF catalyst was evaluated under varying conditions, including contact time, initial pesticide concentration, and light source, for the removal of Dimethoate from aqueous solutions. XRD analysis revealed that the catalyst exhibited good crystallinity, comprising both calcium titanate and magnetic iron oxide phases. BET analysis showed a relatively low specific surface area of 13.9 m²/g. Photodegradation experiments indicated that the catalyst achieved a 30% degradation efficiency of Dimethoate after five hours of contact, with the optimal pesticide concentration found to be 50 ppm. Furthermore, the highest photocatalytic activity was observed when both UV and visible light sources were used simultaneously, while individual use of each light source resulted in lower efficiency.