Fabrication of Cu0-composited CuFe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles on diatomite support for efficient degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride by a Fenton-like system

Abstract

Paramagnetic Cu/CuFe2O4/DE composites were fabricated by a one-step solvothermal method to design a heterogeneous Fenton-like catalyst to degrade tetracycline hydrochloride (TC). The Cu/CuFe2O4/DE were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, BET, and XPS methods. The catalytic activity of CuFe2O4 was improved using diatomite and Cu0. Diatomite (DE) enhanced the dispersity of Cu/CuFe2O4, minimized metal ions leaching, and improved stability. The Cu0 is used for the regeneration of Fe3+. The synergy between Cu+/Cu2+ and Fe2+/Fe3+ redox pairs promotes hydroxyl radical production upon H2O2 decomposition. The synthesized materials were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, BET, and XPS, and their catalytic activities were discussed and analyzed. 95.5 % TC was degraded within 90 min (initial conditions, pH = 5.0 and [TC] 50 mg/L), and showing excellent anti-interference ability to the presence of SO42-, Cl-, NO3-, CO32- and humic acid (HA).The presence of active species, viz., •OH and •O2- radicals generated in the Cu/CuFe2O4/DE/H2O2 system were detected by ESR quenching measurements. The •OH and •O2- mediated TC degraded pathways were proposed using the intermediates identified by LC-MS data. The novel heterogeneous Fenton-like process developed using Cu/CuFe2O4/DE/H2O2 is robust for TC degradation as exemplified in its stability and reusability measurements.