Ascorbic acid enhanced CuFe2O4-catalyzed heterogeneous photo-Fenton-like degradation of phenol

CuFe2O4 particles were synthesized using the sol-gel self-combustion method and characterized for their compositional surface morphology and crystal structure. When compared to the photo-Fenton system without ascorbic acid (AA), the presence of AA significantly enhanced the catalytic degradation of phenol using CuFe2O4. The highest catalytic degradation efficiency was achieved at an AA concentration of 1 mmol/L, resulting in up to 98.6% elimination of phenol in just 40 min. The reaction rate was found to be 31.7 times higher than that of the system without AA. The mechanism of AA enhancement in the CuFe2O4 photo-Fenton system was further investigated. Two key factors were found to contribute to the enhancing mechanism of AA introduction in the CuFe2O4 photo-Fenton system. Firstly, AA promoted the Cu/Fe redox cycle on the catalyst surface, leading to a more efficient generation of reactive species that are responsible for phenol degradation. Secondly, AA accelerated the leaching of metal ions from the catalyst surface, facilitating the homogenous Fenton effect. The Cu/Fe bimetallic cycle system offers new perspectives on effective Fenton catalyst design and provides crucial insights for reductant-enhanced photo-Fenton activation.