Fenton-like catalytic oxidation of tetracycline by AC@Fe3O4 as a heterogeneous persulfate activator: Adsorption and degradation studies

Fenton-like catalytic degradation of tetracycline (TC) was studied by using ferro-ferric oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles coated on activated carbon (AC@Fe3O4) which acts as a peroxidase mimetic and persulfate (PS) as a green oxidant. Adsorption and degradation experiments were carried out in a batch system as functions of pH, PS, catalyst and TC concentrations. Kinetic and pathway of TC degradation by AC@Fe3O4/PS system was also investigated. Under the optimum conditions, the removal efficiency of TC and total organic carbon (TOC) were 99.8 and 50.6%, respectively. AC@Fe3O4 retained its activity and degradation efficiency remained even after five concessive cycles of use. (C) 2016 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.