Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Derived from Chlorella Vulgaris Extract: Characterization and Crystal Violet Photodegradation Studies

Peck Loo Kiew; Nur Ainaa  Mohd Fauzi; Shania Aufaa Firdiani; Man Kee Lam; Lian See Tan; Wei Ming Yeoh

doi:10.37934/progee.24.1.110

Authors

Peck Loo Kiew Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Malaysia - Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, 54100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5051-9909
Nur Ainaa Mohd Fauzi Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Malaysia - Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, 54100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Shania Aufaa Firdiani Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Malaysia - Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, 54100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Man Kee Lam Department of Chemical Engineering, HICoE‑Centre for Biofuel and Biochemical Research, Institute of Self‑Sustainable Building, University Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia
Lian See Tan Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Malaysia - Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, 54100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9039-7926
Wei Ming Yeoh Department of Petrochemical Engineering, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, 31900 Kampar, Perak, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4896-438X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37934/progee.24.1.110

Keywords:

Crystal violet, Iron oxide nanoparticle, Photodegradation, Microalgae, Extract

Abstract

Nanoparticles were first used a century ago, but have recently gained popularity due to their ease of use, eco-friendliness, pollution-free nature, nontoxicity and low cost for wastewater treatment applications. In terms of nanoparticles preparation, green synthesis is a more convenient, economical, quick, and environmentally friendly process than traditional synthesis (i.e. chemical and mechanical) methods. The objective of this study was to synthesise iron oxide nanoparticles from iron (III) chloride using microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris) extract for photodegradation of crystal violet (CV) dye. Various characterization methods such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to examine properties of the nanoparticles including its crystallinity, morphologies and sizes, and functional groups, respectively. The CV photodegradation process was carried out under different process conditions included initial CV concentration (10 mg/L – 25 mg/L), CV solution pH (5.39 – 8.98), and irradiation period (30 – 90 mins) to investigate the optimum operating conditions for the CV removal. The analysis using FESEM demonstrated that the nanoparticles exhibited irregularities and cylindrical shapes, measuring 109 nm in size. Meanwhile, the XRD analysis indicated that the iron oxide nanoparticles possessed a tetragonal crystal structure. The presence of Fe-O stretching vibrations at 486 cm^-1 was confirmed by the FTIR spectrum. In terms of CV photodegradation studies, the optimum operating conditions for CV removal using iron oxide nanoparticles were determined to be at initial CV concentration of 10 mg/L, solution pH of 8.98, and an irradiation period of 90 mins, with a percentage removal of 96.21 %.

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