Environmental contamination, particularly water pollution, is exacerbated by industrial advancements and excessive consumption. Persistent organic pollutants, including dyes and pesticides, adversely affect ecosystems and human health. Chemicals used in agriculture and various organic waste products are oncogenic and harmful, necessitating their removal from industrial wastewater and natural water bodies [1]. Traditional methods for eliminating organic pollutants have drawbacks like hazardous sludge, inadequate removal, and secondary waste, leading to increased costs and extended treatment times. Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) utilizing photocatalysts such as semiconductor metal oxides, spinel nanoparticles, and composites have emerged as effective methods [2]. These materials are valued for their stability, abundance, and biocompatibility. Recent studies have demonstrated the efficacy of spinel photocatalysts in degrading dye compounds. MgAl2O4 spinel powder, with its chemical stability, large specific surface area, and documented success in photodegrading organic dyes, stands out among these, underscoring its potential as an effective photocatalyst for environmental remediation. Magnesium aluminate nanoparticles possess unique properties that enable the degradation of contaminants under UV and visible light, making them crucial for photocatalytic treatment of organic pollutants and environmental pollution mitigation [3]. This study presents the synthesis and comprehensive characterization of MgAl2O4 NPs, emphasizing their photocatalytic efficiency in degrading reactive red 195 (RR195) dye, a prevalent textile pollutant. To determine the structural, morphological, and chemical properties of the synthesized MgAl2O4 NPs, various analytical techniques were employed, including XRD, FESEM, TEM, FTIR, UV-vis-DRS, BET, and EDX analyses. XRD results revealed that the MgAl2O4 NPs exhibited a cubic structure with a crystallite size of 21 nm. Furthermore, TEM image showed that the nanoparticles had sizes in the range of 30-35 nm. The photocatalytic performance of the MgAl2O4 NPS was validated by their ability to degrade RR195 under visible light irradiation. The results indicated that 94% of the dye was degraded within 60 minutes.
