Simultaneous degradation of phenol and paracetamol using carbon/MWCNT/Fe3O4 composite nanofibers during photo-like-Fenton process

Abstract

In the present study, the carbon/MWCNT/Fe3O4 composite nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning process and their application was investigated for simultaneous degradation of phenol and paracetamol through the photo-like-Fenton process. The prepared nanofibers were characterized using SEM and XRD analysis. The Box–Behnken design was used to evaluate the relation between the photo-like-Fenton operating variables including pH (3–5), initial concentrations of phenol and paracetamol (50–250 mg/L), H2O2 concentration (5–25 mmol/L), reaction time (5–25 min), temperature (35–55°C) and carbon/MWCNT/Fe3O4 nanofiber dosage (0.05–0.10 g/L) on the phenol and paracetamol removing. The experimental design results showed that the experimental maximum phenol and paracetamol degradation efficiencies were found to be 99.9% and 99.0% at pH of 3.4, phenol and paracetamol concentrations of 50 mg/L, H2O2 concentration of 15 mmol/L, reaction time of 25 min, temperature of 45°C and nanofiber dosage of 0.075 g/L. The prepared carbon/MWCNT/Fe3O4 nanofiber were successfully reused for five times after regeneration. The obtained results revealed the high potential of carbon/MWCNT/Fe3O4 composite nanofibers for a short-time mineralization of phenolic compounds from wastewater during photo-like-Fenton process.