Building Cu0/CuFe2O4 framework to efficiently degrade tetracycline and improve utilization of H2O2 in Fenton-like system

The most common problems in Fenton reactions of the advanced oxidation process are low oxidant utilization and slow reaction rate. To effectively address these two challenges, we adopted a simple sol-gel calcination method to design Cu0/CuFe2O4 catalyst, which could be in-situ grown on a framework composed of carbon and Al2O3. The synergistic effect and multifunctional frameworks improved the utilization rate of H2O2 and catalyst stability. Cu0 reacted directly with H2O2 and accelerated metal valence conversion. Al anchored metal ions to improve the catalyst stability. The functional groups on the derived carbon transferred electrons directly from the catalyst to H2O2 and promoted the decomposition of H2O2. •OH, 1O2 and O2•- were the main reactive oxygen species. 15 mg/L tetracycline was degraded by 98.5% and total organic carbon was removed by 84.1% in 60 min with 0.2 g/L catalyst. The pseudo-first-order reaction rate was 6 times that of CuFe2O4. More importantly, the H2O2 utilization could reach 74.58%, the catalytic degradation activity reached 89.5% after 9 cycles. This work provided a strategy to solve the low oxidant utilization and improve the degradation rate of Fenton-like systems.