optimization of the fe_3o_4/fexcuywzot photocatalyst for 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid wastewater degradation using the response surface method

Herbicides such as 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-d) are generally carcinogenic and their existence in water cause many problems. in this work, fe_3o_4/fe_xcu_yw_zo_t core/shell magnetic photocatalyst was used to remove 2, 4-d. the statistical analysis of the results of the box-behnken experimental design method revealed that among the constituents of the photocatalyst shell, iron had the highest effect on 2, 4-d photodegradation. the photocatalyst composition was optimized using the response surface method. the photocatalyst formulation was determined using icp method: fe_3o_4/fe_0.874cu_0.349w_0.004o_1.525. xrd analysis confirmed the formation of fe_3o_4, cuo, and wo_3 in the photocatalyst shell. tem images showed the photocatalyst core/shell structure. fe_3o_4/fe_0.874cu_0.349w_0.004o_1.525 photodegraded 2, 4-d under ultraviolet light irradiation with the maximum yield of 90%. the photocatalyst was also active under sunlight and led. the kinetics of the 2, 4-d photodegradation reaction under ultra violet light irradiation was studied. it followed first order kinetic model. the rate constant of the reaction was 0.0118 min^-1. the photocatalyst activity of fe_3o_4/fe_0.874cu_0.349w_0.004o_1.525 remained constant after the fourth cycle of reuse, which is the good advantage.