Microwave – assisted catalytic degradation efficiency of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) using magnetically separable magnesium ferrite (MgFe2O4) nanoparticles

Abstract In the present study, we report the green synthesis of novel magnetically separable MgFe2O4 nanoparticles using Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp leafs via combustion method. The MgFe2O4 were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The crystalline structure of MgFe2O4 NPs was confirmed via XRD electron micrograph and TEM showed that the MgFe2O4 NPs were nearly spherical particles with particle size ranging between 5-15 nm. UV-vis DRS study showed the optical band gap of MgFe2O4 NPs was found to be 1.0 eV. Microwaves (MW) assisted degradation of PCM-dolo drug on MgFe2O4 were performed at different operating parameters such as time (0-30 min), drug concentration (PCM-dolo 50 mg/L), initial concentration of MgFe2O4 (0 mg/L -110 mg/L), and microwave power (100W-600W) to obtained the residual absorbance of PCM-dolo on MgFe2O4. Experimental data was used to compute the degradation efficiency of PCM-dolo on MgFe2O4. The enhanced catalytic performance could be ascribed to the production of MW-induced active species, such as holes (h+), superoxide radicals (•O2−) and hydroxyl radicals (•OH) in the degradation process. A possible degradation mechanism and pathway was proposed in MW/MgFe2O4 system. Moreover, MgFe2O4 as an eco-friendly catalyst could be easily separated and recycled by a magnet.