LAUSR

This work presents results of synthesis and characterization of Ag 3 PO 4 and Fe 3 O 4 as well as the AgP-Mag1 and AgP-Mag2 composites. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) elucidated the formation of the composites. Ag 3 PO 4 has a body centered cubic structure with high crystallinity. The UV–Vis and Raman spectroscopy analyses indicate that a synergistic interaction occurs between Ag 3 PO 4 and Fe 3 O 4 . The vibration sample magnetometry analysis showed the magnetic behavior of the composites through the hysteresis curves. Photocatalytic activities performed at 120 min evidenced significant results for degradation of Rhodamine-B dye (RhB) using Ag 3 PO 4 , AgP-Mag1 and AgP-Mag2 composites (98%, 100%, and 100%, respectively). In addition, the catalytic cycles revealed that the photocatalytic efficiency of the composite was preserved over that of the pure semiconductor, and 100% degradation of the dye at 120 min could be obtained in the third catalytic cycle. The toxicity studies demonstrated that photodegradation products did not have genotoxicity, cytotoxicity, and mutagenicity, indicating that RhB was degraded into carbon dioxide and water or into other nontoxic products.