Efficient degradation of Azorubin S colourant in the commercial jam-jelly food samples using TiO 2 -CoFe 2 O 4 nanocomposites in visible light

Abstract A series of TiO 2 -CoFe 2 O 4 nanocomposites, with different compositions of TiO 2 and CoFe 2 O 4 was synthesized by ex-situ method to enhance the activity of bare TiO 2 . X-ray diffraction revealed the prominent characteristics of anatase phase for higher composition of TiO 2 in the composites; while cubic-spinel structure for higher composition of CoFe 2 O 4 in the composites. Electron microscopic images showed uniform particles with marigold shape of TiO 2 particles and porous nature of CoFe 2 O 4 particles. The catalytic activity of TiO 2 -CoFe 2 O 4 was evaluated by using the photoremediation of Azorubin S under visible light irradiation and exhibited the higher activity for a composite consists of 95 wt% TiO 2 and 5 wt% CoFe 2 O 4 than the remaining composites. The optimized experimental conditions of photodegradation reaction were used for complete degradation of Azorubin S in the commercial jam-jelly food samples and reaction was monitored by using UV–vis as well as HPLC techniques.