SYNTHESIS AND APPLICATION OF Ag/CuO/Fe₃O₄/ACB DERIVED FROM BRUCEA JAVANICA FOR PHOTOCATALYTIC FENTON DEGRADATION OF CRYSTAL VIOLET DYE

The relentless release of organic dyes into water bodies has raised critical environmental concerns, demanding the development of efficient, sustainable, and reusable catalytic systems for wastewater treatment. In this study, we report the synthesis of a multifunctional Ag/CuO/Fe₃O₄/activated carbon beads (ACB) composite derived from natural Brucea javanica seeds through a one-step carbonization method. The resulting composite combines the magnetic properties of Fe₃O₄, the visible-light-responsive nature of CuO, and the surface plasmon resonance of Ag, creating a robust catalyst capable of highly efficient heterogeneous heterogeneous photo-Fenton-like-like degradation of crystal violet (CV) dye under visible light. Under optimized conditions (pH 7, H₂O₂ 0.05 M, catalyst dosage 2 g/L, and Fe³⁺:Cu²⁺:Ag⁺ ratio of 2:1:0.5), the Ag/CuO/Fe₃O₄/ACB composite achieved a remarkable CV removal efficiency of 98% within 90 min. Even after five consecutive reuse cycles, the composite retained a high degradation efficiency of 83%, demonstrating excellent stability and reusability. Comprehensive structural analyses by XRD, FTIR, SEM, TEM, and VSM confirmed the successful formation and stability of the composite. This work not only offers a simple, eco-friendly approach to producing high-performance photocatalysts but also highlights the potential of using agricultural by-products for sustainable environmental remediation. The Ag/CuO/Fe₃O₄/ACB composite is a promising candidate for large-scale wastewater treatment and provides a strategic solution to combat organic dye pollution.