Fe2O3/diatomite materials as efficient photo-Fenton catalysts for ciprofloxacin removal

Abstract

In this study, we used Fe₂O₃/diatomite material system toward ciprofloxacin (CIP) photo-Fenton removal in water under visible light (vis) excitation. The characterization of Fe₂O₃/diatomite catalysts was determined by X-ray diffraction patterns, Fourier-transform infrared analysis, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and scanning electron microscopy. The photo-Fenton catalytic activity of the Fe₂O₃/diatomite was appraised by the removal efficiency of the CIP throughout the effect of the H₂O₂ with various parameters such as initial pH, catalyst amount, and H₂O₂ amount. The results indicate that 0.2 gL^-1 Fe₂O₃/diatomite catalysts achieved the highest performance at approximately 90.03% with a 50 μL H₂O₂ concentration. Furthermore, the Fe₂O₃/diatomite catalysts have high stability, with over 80% CIP removed after five cycles. This study is inspired to develop a potential material for photo-Fenton degradation of antibiotics in wastewater.

Keywords: Ciprofloxacin; Emerging photocatalyst; Fe2O3/diatomite; Hydroxyl radical; Photo-Fenton; Upscaling.