H2O2-free photo-Fenton system for antibiotics degradation in water via the synergism of oxygen-enriched graphitic carbon nitride polymer and nano manganese ferrite

Abstract

The use of antibiotics in human beings is a most significant milestone in the present era. However, owing to the chemical diversity and complexity, antibiotic removal from water has been an issue with the massive emission. As an efficient technology for antibiotic wastewater treatment, photo-Fenton oxidation has drawn much attention. In this work, we constructed a photo-Fenton system by combining oxygen-enriched graphitic carbon nitride polymer (OCN) and manganese ferrite (MnFe₂O₄) to form OCN-MnFe₂O₄ (OMF) composites, which show good performance for antibiotics degradation without adding H₂O₂. The degradation efficiency within 1 h for tetracycline, oxytetracycline and ciprofloxacin were 86.5%, 82.2% and 42.7%, respectively. Both radical pathways (PFRs, ˙OH, ˙O₂⁻ and h⁺) and non-radical pathways (electron transfer and ¹O₂) play roles in antibiotic degradation. Additionally, the performance of this photo-Fenton system over OMF was nearly not affected by water matrix and inorganic salt ions, exhibiting high stability. It is anticipated that this photo-Fenton system is highly efficient for the treatment of antibiotics-polluted water.