The use of kaoline and zinc aluminate supported copper ferrite catalysts in the removal of propranolol from water under heterogenous electro-fenton conditions

In this study, two different catalysts containing copper ferrite (CuFe2O4) were synthesized and the removal of propranolol, a beta blocking agent, from water by heterogeneous electro-Fenton method was investigated. Kaolin, and zinc aluminate were used as support materials in the prepared catalysts and two different catalysts were obtained in this way. SEM / EDX, XRD, and BET analyzes were performed for the characterization of catalysts. Propranolol removal efficiency was followed by total organic carbon (TOC) analysis. Analyzes of aromatic, aliphatic and inorganic products formed during the oxidation of propranolol were performed by GC-MS, HPLC and IC. It was determined that the mineralization rate of propranolol was faster 12.2% in the heterogeneous electro-Fenton system compared to the homogeneous system. In the experiments performed with both synthesized catalysts, high mineralization rates were achieved at different pH values. In experiments with an initial concentration of 0.25 mM propranolol, TOC removal rates of KLH@BF and ZnA@BF catalysts were determined as 95.1% and 82.1%, after 6 hours of electrolysis, respectively. The recovery values of KLH@BF and ZnA@BF catalysts were determined as 92.4% and 89.1%, respectively. The most important advantages of synthesized catalysts are that they can be easily recovered from the reaction medium with the help of their strong magnetic properties, they are suitable for reuse and they are inexpensive.