Degradation of Ceftriaxone from aquatic solution using a heterogeneous and reusable O₃/UV/ Fe₃O₄@TiO₂ systems: operational factors, kinetics and mineralisation

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.