CaCu3Ti4O12, an efficient catalyst for ibuprofen removal by activation of peroxymonosulfate under visible-light irradiation

Yunqing Zhu (1) , Tian Wang (1) , Wenjuan Wang (1) , Siyu Chen (2) , Eric Lichtfouse (3) , Cheng Cheng (1) , Jie Zhao (1) , Yingxuan Li (1) , Chuanyi Wang (1)

1 Shaanxi University of Science and Technology
2 Shihezi University
3 CEREGE - Centre européen de recherche et d'enseignement des géosciences de l'environnement

Contamination of waters by pharmaceuticals is a major health issue. Therefore, there is a need for efficient techniques to remove pharmaceutical pollutants. Here, a photo-assisted fenton-like method based on sulfate radicals was tested using CaCu3Ti4O12 with different morphologies as catalyst. Sintering of CaCu3Ti4O12 at 775 °C for 6 h produced cubic structures with sizes from 2 to 5 μm, whereas sintering for 14 h produced microfibers, according to scanning electron microscopy. The highest electron paramagnetic resonance signal was observed for 6-h sintering. We evaluated the catalytic efficiency of CaCu3Ti4O12 for ibuprofen degradation with peroxymonosulfate under visible light. Results show that CaCu3Ti4O12 and 0.5 mM peroxymonosulfate under visible-light irradiation induced 91.8% removal of ibuprofen in 60 min. The Cu + vacancy on the surface of CaCu3Ti4O12 is essential to activate the sulfate radicals by forming a Cu +-Cu 2+ redox couple, which led to the rapid and efficient removal of ibuprofen.

Mots clés: Photocatalysis; Advanced oxidation; Peroxymonosulfate; Ibuprofen; CaCu3Ti4O12

Domaines: Catalyse; Autre; Ingénierie de l'environnement

Yunqing Zhu, Tian Wang, Wenjuan Wang, Siyu Chen, Eric Lichtfouse, et al.. CaCu3Ti4O12, an efficient catalyst for ibuprofen removal by activation of peroxymonosulfate under visible-light irradiation. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 2019, 17 (1), pp.481-486. ⟨10.1007/s10311-018-0776-x⟩. ⟨hal-02082946⟩