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Photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin by MMT/CuFe2O4 nanocomposite: characteristics, response surface methodology, and toxicity analyses

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Abstract

The photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) was examined by loading spinel ferrite copper (CuFe2O4) nanoparticles onto montmorillonite (MMT) under irradiation using UV light. The laboratory parameters were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM), and maximum efficiency (83.75%) was achieved at a pH of 3, CIP concentration of 32.5 mg/L, MMT/CuFe2O4 dose of 0.78 g/L, and irradiation time of 47.50 min. During the photocatalysis process, the experiments on radical trapping demonstrated the generation of hydroxyls (•OH), superoxide (•O2-) radical, electrons (e-), and holes (h+). A low rate drop (below 10%) in the CIP degradation during the six consecutive reaction cycles corroborated the remarkable recyclability and stability of the MMT/CuFe2O4. The acute toxicity of the treated solution was determined using Daphnia Magna, by applying photocatalysis, which was indicative of a marked decline in the toxicity. Comparing the findings of the degradation using UV and the degradation process using visible light represented results with close resemblance to each other at the end of the reaction time. Besides, under UV and visible light, the particles in reactor are easily activated when the pollutant mineralization exceeded 80%.

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Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgments

The authors express their gratitude to the Student Research Committee of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences for the financial support extended. We are thankful also for the scientific cooperation between the Al-Mustaqbal University College and Zahedan University.

Funding

This study is funded by the Student Research Committee of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences (code 11009).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Building and Construction Techniques Engineering Department, Al-Mustaqbal University College, Hillah, Babylon, 51001, Iraq

    Tariq J. Al-Musawi

  2. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Evas Faculty of Health, Larestan University of Medical Sciences, Larestan, Iran

    Nezamaddin Mengelizadeh

  3. Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq

    Abeer I. Alwared

  4. Department of Environmental Health, Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran

    Davoud Balarak

  5. Student Research Committee, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran

    Reza Sabaghi

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  1. Tariq J. Al-Musawi
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  2. Nezamaddin Mengelizadeh
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  4. Davoud Balarak
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Contributions

Tariq J. Al-Musawi and Davoud Balarak: writing, results, and discussion. Nezamaddin Mengelizadeh: writing and experiments. Abeer I. Alwared: editing, methodology, and data analysis. Reza Sabaghi: project administration, funding acquisition, and supervision.

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Correspondence to Davoud Balarak.

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Al-Musawi, T.J., Mengelizadeh, N., Alwared, A.I. et al. Photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin by MMT/CuFe2O4 nanocomposite: characteristics, response surface methodology, and toxicity analyses. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 70076–70093 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-27277-7

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