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

Magnetic CuO/MnFe 2 O 4 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/MnFe 2 O 4 -9% showed higher catalytic performance than pure CuO, pure MnFe 2 O 4 and other fabricated CuO/MnFe 2 O 4 nanocomposites. And under the optimized conditions of 1 g·L −1 CuO/MnFe 2 O 4 -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/MnFe 2 O 4 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/MnFe 2 O 4 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/MnFe 2 O 4 nanocomposite might be applied to the removal of refractory organics in environmental remediation.