Accelerated photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants over carbonate-rich lanthanum-substituted zinc spinel ferrite assembled reduced graphene oxide by ultraviolet (UV)-activated persulfate

Carbonate-rich lanthanum-substituted zinc spinel ferrite assembled reduced graphene oxide nanohybrids (LaZF@rGO) were simply synthesized using a simple hydrothermal-induced precipitation process. The synthesized photocatalytic material, LaZF@rGO, showed excellent photocatalytic performance in the decolorization and mineralization of rhodamine B (RhB) under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation with the aid of peroxydisulfate. The photocatalytic activity of the optimized LaZF@rGO nanohybrids was approximately two times higher than that of zinc spinel ferrite assembled reduced graphene oxide, suggesting the critical role of lanthanum in assisting the peroxydisulfate degradation of RhB. The prepared photocatalyst was successfully utilized in the removal of a wide spectrum of selected organic contaminants such as charged dyes and pharmaceutical and personal care products under UV irradiation. The obtained “green” photocatalyst has a great potential for practical applications, since it can be regenerated and reused at least four times with negligible loss of photocatalytic activity and with insignificant leaching of potentially hazardous toxic elements (e.g., lanthanum and zinc) to the environment.