Synergistic catalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin using magnetic carbon nanomaterial/NiFe2O4 promoted cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet: Influence of charcoal, multi walled carbon nanotubes and walnut shell

Abstract

BackgroundCurrently, water polluted to antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (CIP) has been a main concern for the ecosystem and environment. Hence, the removal of these emerging contaminants is essential. MethodIn this research, a hybrid process including magnetic carbon nanomaterial/NiFe2O4 promoted atmospheric non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge plasma jet (APJ) as an environmentally friendly hybrid system was evaluated for eliminating CIP from polluted synthetic effluent. Multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), activated carbon formed using charcoal (ChAC), and the walnut shell was applied as the carbonous source. Besides, to solve the separation problem, the charcoal, as optimum sample, was magnetized with NiFe2O4 (ChAC/NiFe2O4) using the treatment solvothermal route. Characterizations of all carbon materials were carried out by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda and vibrating-sample magnetometer analyses. FindingThe degradation amount for 80 mg/L CIP gained 48.8, 80.8, and 98.1% over APJ system + walnut shell, MWCNTs, and ChAC, respectively, after 90 min at 15 kVp-p output voltage and 0.05 g/L of catalyst loading. The results showed the ChAC/NiFe2O4 (87.2%) had less removal than ChAC (98.1%), but it has magnetic properties that can facilitate the separation problem.