Auto combustion synthesis using grapefruit extract: photocatalyst and magnetic MgFe2O4-PbS nanocomposites

Magnesium ferrite (MgFe2O4) as a core magnetic nanostructure was synthesized via auto combustion method by using grapefruit extract as a biocompatible and cost-effective material. Then flower and star-like PbS were synthesized using thioglycolic acid as a sulfur source without using any chemical template. After that for preparation of magnetic and photocatalyst MgFe2O4-PbS nanocomposites, lead sulfide were coated on the magnetic core by hydrothermal procedure. Morphology of the prepared products was estimated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), also X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern show purity and phase of the product. Fourier transforms infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy show vibration modes of the bonds. Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) illustrated that magnesium ferrite nanoparticles have a soft magnetic behaviour with 18 emu/g magnetization and coercivity about 90Oe. The photocatalytic behaviour of MgFe2O4-PbS nanocomposites were examined using the degradation of two various azo dyes acid brown and acid violet under visible light irradiation. This magnetic photocatalyst can easily separate from water with an external magnetic field and can be used under solar irradiation.