Photocatalytic degradation of naproxen in water under solar irradiation in the presence of globular NiFe2O4 nanoparticles.

Globular NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles have been synthesized by a simple sol–gel method. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the material have been thoroughly characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transformed infrared and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, specific surface area, and porosity analysis. Finally, NiFe₂O₄ has been tested for the photocatalytic degradation of naproxen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug widely present in water effluents, under natural solar light irradiation and under several experimental conditions. In particular, the beneficial effect of small H₂O₂ amounts added to the photocatalytic suspension has been highlighted. The kinetic model reveals that under solar irradiation, 85% of naproxen could be degraded in 60 min upon the addition of H₂O₂, while 65% degradation could be achieved in its absence. Results highlight that NiFe₂O₄ could be an efficient and promising material for photocatalytic water remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]