A Versatile Material: Perovskite Bismuth Ferrite Microparticles as a Potential Catalyst for Enhancing Fuel Efficiency and Degradation of Various Organic Dyes

The investigation of photocatalytic and fuel additive properties of bismuth ferrite (BiFeO₃) microparticles is main objective of this work. Individual properties of bismuth and iron are synergistically reinforce in BiFeO₃. X-ray diffraction spectroscopy is used to analyze the phase, phase purity and lattice structure of BiFeO₃. Fuel additive and photocatalytic nature are linked to morphology and size of particles. Morphological analysis showed that rod like particles are arranged in the form of star like structures. Fuel additive role of BiFeO₃ is analyzed by testing calorific value, flash point, fire point, surface tension, kinematic viscosity, cloud point and pour point of fuel loaded with 20, 40, 60 and 80 ppm additive. Amount of additive has affected all the properties of fuel. So additive role of BiFeO₃ is analyzed which helps to decide whether BiFeO₃ can be used as additive on large scale or not. Photocatalytic degradation of dyes is studied in aqueous medium using BiFeO₃ as photocatalyst. Photocatalytic role of BiFeO₃ is analyzed by measuring apparent rate constant (k_app), percentage degradation and degradation time of all dyes. k_app of dyes is as follows: CV (0.0371 min⁻¹), RB5 (0.0186 min⁻¹), MR (0.0159 min⁻¹), MB (0.0147 min⁻¹), EBT (0.0142 min⁻¹), MX (0.0135 min⁻¹), CR (0.0133 min⁻¹), FG (0.0098 min⁻¹) and SN (0.0088 min⁻¹). Comparison of all these parameters helps to analyze that degradation of dyes is linked to their structure and nature.