Ciprofloxacin degradation by catalytic activation of monopersulfate using Mn–Fe oxides: performance and mineralization

Abstract

In this work, Mn2O3/Fe2O3 (MFO) was synthesized and used to activate monopersulfate (MPS) for the degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP). The effect of several parameters was studied on CIP degradation. Under the optimum conditions (pH = 6.3 (natural pH), MFO = 300 mg/L and MPS = 2 mM), around 92% of CIP was decomposed. Nitrite, phosphate and bicarbonate ions had a strong inhibitory effect on the MFO/MPS process while the effect of chloride and nitrate ions was neutral. The catalytic activity of MFO was also studied by other chemical oxidants such as peroxydisulfate, periodate, hydrogen peroxide, percarbonate and peracetic acid. Scavenging tests showed that the role of sulfate radicals is more than hydroxyl radicals. MFO exhibited high catalytic activity in four recycling with insignificant leaching of Mn and Fe. During CIP oxidation, 45.5% carbon mineralization occurred and antibacterial activity of treated CIP solution was reduced. Finally, MFO/MPS was applied on actual wastewater (hospital effluent) and the results showed that MFO/MPS can be considered as a practical method for the treatment of contaminated water with emerging pollutants. HIGHLIGHTS Mn2O3/Fe2O3 (MFO) was simply synthesized to activate MPS for CIP degradation.; Catalytic activity of MFO was evaluated in the presence of several oxidants.; Reusability and stability of MFO was studied in four cycles.; Carbon and fluorine mineralization and antibacterial activity were evaluated.;

Keywords

• advanced oxidation processes (aops)
• ciprofloxacin
• monopersulfate
• toxicity
• transition metals