Heterogeneous electrocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin by ternary Ce3ZrFe4O14-x/CF composite cathode

Ciprofloxacin (CIP) is a pervasive ecosystematic contaminant which is classified as highly effective broad-spectrum antibiotic. In this work, CIP was degraded by a self-prepared ternary Ce 3 ZrFe 4 O 14-x /CF composite cathode (x referred to oxygen vacancies) undergoing the heterogeneous electrocatalytic process. The influences of operating parameters such as pH, applied current and loading capacity, were estimated by removing efficiency. Compared with the pure carbon felt (CF), 3.8 wt% Ce 3 ZrFe 4 O 14-x /CF composite cathode showed the efficient degradation of CIP in broad pH range 3.0–6.0 with 100 mA. The degradation rates reached more than 98.0% at the wide pH range in 3 h, even reached 100% at pH = 3. The results indicated that the Ce 3 ZrFe 4 O 14-x /CF composite emerged a brilliant electrocatalysis in enhancing oxygen active species with converting reactions in Ce 4+ ↔Ce 3+ and Fe 3+ ↔Fe 2+ . For further understanding the ternary Ce 3 ZrFe 4 O 14-x /CF composite electrode, we used SEM, BET, TEM, XRD, XPS, TOC , HPLC–MS, EPR, CV and EIS to characterize and analyze. Also, it was deemed as a prospective cathode to accomplish industrialization for CIP degradation, based on lower energy consumption and wide pH range.