Detoxification of aflatoxin B1 using nano-sized Sc-doped SrTi0.7Fe0.3O3 under visible light

[Display omitted] •Undoped and Sc-doped SrTi0.7Fe0.3O3 samples were prepared and fully characterized.•Sc doping influence on the structural properties of SrTi0.7Fe0.3O3 and band gap was investigated.•Effect of novel prepared catalysts on detoxification of aflatoxin B1 investigated.•Optimum operating conditions are obtained.•The intermediates degradation by-products was proved using GC/MS. Nano-sized undoped and Sc-doped SrTi0.7Fe0.3O3 samples were prepared using the complex precursor route. The prepared photcatalysts were characterized using XRD, diffuse reflectance and XPS. The prepared samples have cubic perovskite-like phase structure. Sc doping leads to increasing both the cubic lattice parameter and unit cell volume and also decreasing the band gap values. The lowest band gap was detected for 10mole% Sc doped SrTi0.7Fe0.3O3 (1.58eV). A matrix effect analysis was applied to correlate the photo detoxification of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in the visible light to the irradiation time, initial levels of AFB1, amount of catalysts and pH. The average crystallite size of the samples is in the range of 13–21nm. Sc doping played an important role in the photocatalytic degradation of AFB1 by SrTi0.7Fe0.3O3 in visible light. About 88.2% removal of aflatoxin B1 was achieved by 10mole% Sc doped SrTi0.7Fe0.3O3 sample within 120min in visible light, which is higher than that of undoped, 1 or 5mole% Sc doped SrTi0.7Fe0.3O3. The intermediates formed in the detoxification of AFB1 was proved using GC/MS.