Green synthesis of α-Fe 2 O 3 using Citrus reticulum peels extract and water decontamination from different organic pollutants

In this study, α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) have been prepared using the hot water extract of the mandarin (Citrus reticulum) peels as a way for recycling of domestic waste to valuable product. The prepared hematite was characterized by UV/Vis spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, XRD, FTIR, SEM, and TEM. It was found to be porous irregular sphere shaped NPs with average size of 20–63 nm, characterized by weak ferromagnetic properties and band gap (Eg) of 2.38 eV. The prepared α-Fe2O3 NPs expressed good photocatalytic degradation activity. It showed good capacity for the decontamination of polluted water from anionic and cationic dyes and dicholorophenols under visible light irradiation.