Abstract:
Combination of magnetic nanoparticles such as hematite (α-Fe2O3) and magnetite
(Fe3O4) was used as catalysts to degradate methylene blue in aqueous solution.
Magnetic nanoparticles were obtained from the natural sands of Sungai Suci beach,
Pondok Kelapa District, Bengkulu Tengah Regency, Bengkulu Province through ball
milling process. The natural sand was dried under the sun prior to iron sand separator
(ISS) process. Iron oxide and non iron oxide particles of ISS products were separated
again using Neodymium Iron Boron (NdFeB) magnet and then milled using the ball
milling method for 60 hours using a combination milling ball with diameter of 0.5,
0.7 and 1.5 cm.. The ball milling product was separated again using NdFeB magnet.
This product is called BM I product. Product of BM I was divided into three parts
with the same amount called BM IA, BM IB and BM IC. Products of BM IA, BM IB
and BM IC were milling for 40 hours with milling ball diameter of 0.5, 0.7, and 1.5
cm, respectively. The products are called BM IIA, BM IIB and BM IIC. The
determination of the magnetic susceptibility of a sample was carried out through
magnetic induction measurements with a Pasco magnetic probe. The magnetic
induction increases with increasing size of the milling ball. The ability of magnetic
nanoparticles (BM II products) as a catalyst in degrading methylene blue was studied
using the UV-Vis spectrophotometric method and showed excellent ability to degrade
methylene blue in aquaeous solution. The percentage of degradation of methylene
blue using this magnetic nanoparticle catalyst after 14 hours reached 99.44% for BM
IIC product.
