Degradation of Ceftriaxone from aquatic solution using a heterogeneous and reusable O<sub>3</sub>/UV/ Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>@TiO<sub>2</sub> systems: operational factors, kinetics and mineralisation
Seyed Yaser Hashemi, Mojtaba Yegane Badi, Hasan Pasalari, Ali Azari, Hossein Arfaeinia, Amin Kiani
Abstract
The present study was developed to evaluate and optimise catalytic oxidative degradation of Ceftriaxone (CTX) from aqueous solution using heterogeneous O3/UV/Fe3O4@TiO2 systems. The performance of combined system O3/UV/Fe3O4@TiO2 was examined as a function of operational parameters including catalyst dosage, solution pH, initial concentration and ozone concentration in a batch system. Physical and chemical properties of the catalyst composite materials were characterised using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectra and vibrating sample magnetometer. A high removal efficiency of CTX (92.40%) and total organic carbon (TOC) reduction (72.5%) were obtained under optimum conditions, i.e. (time: 30 min, photocatalyst dosage: 2 g/L, pH: 9, initial CTX concentration: 10 mg/L and ozone dosage: 0.2 g/h). The high removal efficiency of CTX and TOC after six consecutive catalyst uses proved the excellent reusing potential of Fe3O4@TiO2. Quenching experiments confirmed that OH° played major roles compared with h+ and O2− in photocatalytic degradation of CTX. Integration of O3/UV/Fe3O4@TiO2exhibited an excellent performance into CTX removal over 30 min reaction, which can be considered as a promising and effective technique for the decontamination of polluted waters.