CuFe2O4 as a heterogeneous Fenton catalyst for the removal of ciprofloxacin from aqueous solution at natural pH

Abstract

In the present study, a bimetallic oxide catalyst of CuFe₂O₄ was synthesized via facile co-precipitation process and characterized using various techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), N₂ adsorption – desorption analysis and UV-visible spectroscopy. Subsequently, it was used to degrade ciprofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, from an aqueous solution under various conditions. The effect of various operational parameters such as catalyst loading, H₂O₂ volume, initial ciprofloxacin concentration, inorganic ions, and solar irradiation has also been evaluated. The removal process was found to follow the trend: photo-Fenton > Fenton > catalytic > adsorption > photolysis. Finally, the results showed that CuFe₂O₄ catalyst degraded a high percentage of ciprofloxacin and maintained reasonable efficiency even after five cycles. Thus, CuFe₂O₄ is a promising catalyst for the activation of H₂O₂ to degrade ciprofloxacin antibiotics.