Fabrication of efficient bimetallic magnetic/silver nanocatalyst for the fast degradation of toxic coloring compounds from aqueous samples

This study reports a facile method for preparing bimetallic nanomaterials (iron–silver magnetic nano-oxides)-based catalyst by chemical co-reduction process. The resultant catalytic material has been used to remove the toxic organic dyes from the aqueous media. Modern analytical techniques have been used to analyze resultant catalytic material, such as SEM, HR-TEM, FTIR, XRD, and EDX. Their combined outcomes revealed that the particles have a two-dimensional nano-rod-like structure with a highly porous sponge-like morphology. Different parameters such as dose, time, temperature, and interference study have been optimized to attain the maximum percentage degradation of methylene blue and rhodamine-B dyes. The prepared catalytic material exhibited high catalytic activity with reduction rate constant values of 0.6 min⁻¹ and 0.7 min⁻¹ for rhodamine-B and methylene blue, respectively. Due to the magnetic characteristics, the catalytic materials can easily recover for recycling. The fabricated catalytic material is efficient as compared to the reported materials. Graphical abstract: (Figure presented.)