Synthesis of magnetic CuO/MnFe2O4 nanocompisite and its high activity for degradation of levofloxacin by activation of persulfate

Magnetic CuO/MnFe2O4 nanocomposite were synthesized and characterized as a heterogeneous catalyst. Subsequently, it was used to activate persulfate (PS) for levofloxacin (LVF) removal with the operating parameters optimized. Results reveled that the sample of CuO/MnFe2O4-9% showed higher catalytic performance than pure CuO, pure MnFe2O4 and other fabricated CuO/MnFe2O4 nanocomposites. And under the optimized conditions of 1 g·L−1 CuO/MnFe2O4-9% and PS at pH 9 and 25 °C, 91.3% of LVF could be decomposed within 120 min. Besides, the underlying mechanism of CuO/MnFe2O4 nanocomposite activating PS was proposed by free radical quenching experiment and XPS results. Eventually, several degradation intermediates of LVF were identified and three decomposition pathways were proposed. Especially, the CuO/MnFe2O4 nanocomposite exhibited superparamagnetic property and good stability, which favored the catalyst to be efficiently recovered through the applied magnetic field and reused from aquatic environment. Thus, the as-prepared CuO/MnFe2O4 nanocomposite might be applied to the removal of refractory organics in environmental remediation.