The Effectiveness of Capping Agent Addition in the form of Starch to Fe2O3 Nanomaterials on the Degradation of Methylene Blue Dye
Lina Mahardiani, Sahda Nabilah Qurrotul Aini, Febri Yogi Pratama, Wirawan Cipto Nugroho, Endang Susilowati, Sulistyo Saputro

Universitas Sebelas Maret

Abstract

In this study, Fe2O3 (N-F) nano-materials were synthesized using bottom-up method and co-precipitation technique. Capping agent from the addition of corn flour (N-FMz), mocaf flour (N-FMf), and tapioca flour (N-FTp) was used as a modification to control the size and morphology of iron oxide nano-particles so as to improve the performance of the photocatalyst in degrading dyes optimally. The capped nano iron oxide showed an increase in dye degradation activity when compared to the unmodified nano iron oxide. The results of XRD, SEM, and FTIR showed a difference in morphology in the material, namely the formation of a sponge layer as an indication of the capping agent derived from flour and the addition of functional groups in the form of C-H, C = C, O-H. The material size of N-F was obtained at 4.64 nm, N-FMf at 6.61 nm, N-FMz 3,90 nm, and N-FTp 2.98 nm. In the degradation of 10 ppm methylene blue dye, optimal results were obtained at the 60th minute with an efficiency of 95.166% in N-FMz, 98.020% in N-FMf, 98.161% in N-FTp. However, in N-F only obtained a degradation efficiency of 75.578%. So it can be concluded that the addition of capping agent can improve the performance of the photocatalyst with the largest increase in N-FTp by 22.58%.

Keywords: Fe2O3, capping agent, degradation, photocatalytic

Topic: Chemistry and Chemistry Education