Magnetic photocatalyst CoFe2O4-Ag2O with magnetic aggregation bed photocatalytic reactor for continuous photodegradation of methyl orange

A magnetic aggregation bed photocatalytic reactor (MABPR) was designed and constructed to achieve continuous photodegradation of methyl orange (MO) solution without subsequent photocatalyst separation. A magnetic photocatalyst, CoFe 2 O 4 -Ag 2 O, was scattered and immobilized on aggregated flower-like Fe 3 O 4 structures, which were anchored to the reactor with external magnets at the bottom. Under optimal operating conditions, MO is effectively photodegraded in the MABPR in 60 min with a fluid velocity of 0.01 m/s and a 100 mT magnetic field under natural illuminance (E v ). Magnetic aggregates in the MABPR support the magnetic photocatalyst, increasing their effective irradiation area and also increasing fluid disturbance to enhance mass transfer. Additional energy input for photodegradation and photocatalyst recovery were not required to operate the MABPR; the mass of photocatalyst did not decrease over the course of the experiment. The MABPR proposes a promising design for a usable, cost-effective, low-energy, continuous photoreactor using a magnetic photocatalyst.