Boosting Antibiotic Breakdown Using Durian Peel Biochar and Special Metal Oxides

Jim Crocker
30th May, 2024

Boosting Antibiotic Breakdown Using Durian Peel Biochar and Special Metal Oxides

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • Researchers at Le Quy Don Technical University developed a new catalyst system to degrade the antibiotic ciprofloxacin in water
  • The catalyst, made from CuCoFe-LDH and biochar from durian shells, degraded over 95% of ciprofloxacin in just 10 minutes
  • This system works efficiently across a wide pH range (3-9) and uses reactive oxygen species to break down the antibiotic
The degradation of antibiotics in water systems has become a pressing environmental concern due to the persistence of these compounds and their potential to contribute to antibiotic resistance. Recent research from Le Quy Don Technical University has introduced an innovative catalyst system that efficiently degrades ciprofloxacin (CFX), a commonly used antibiotic, in water. This study focuses on a novel catalyst, CuCoFe-LDO/BCD, synthesized from CuCoFe-LDH and biochar derived from durian shell (BCD)[1]. The catalyst system demonstrated remarkable efficiency, degrading more than 95% of CFX within 10 minutes, driven primarily by reactive oxygen species such as superoxide radicals (O2•-) and singlet oxygen (1O2). The rate constant for this degradation was 0.255 min-1, significantly outperforming other systems, specifically 14.35 and 2.66 times higher than BCD/PMS and CuCoFe-LDO/PMS systems, respectively. This enhanced performance was observed across a wide pH range (3-9), indicating its robustness in various environmental conditions. The core mechanism behind this efficiency is the built-in electric field (BIEF) created by the significant difference in work function and Fermi level ratio between CuCoFe-LDO and BCD. This BIEF facilitates continuous electron transfer from CuCoFe-LDO to BCD, creating two distinct microenvironments with opposite charges at the interface. This unique configuration enhances peroxymonosulfate (PMS) adsorption and activation in different directions, leading to the generation of reactive oxygen species crucial for antibiotic degradation. The study also highlighted the role of biochar (BCD) in the catalytic process. The presence of carbonyl groups (C=O) in BCD not only increased the atomic charge of carbon atoms but also redistributed the charge density among other carbon atoms. This redistribution favored the strong adsorption of PMS, which is essential for generating 1O2. Additionally, the negatively charged carbon atoms in BCD facilitated the generation of hydroxyl (•OH) and sulfate radicals (SO4•-), further contributing to the degradation process. This research builds upon previous studies that explored similar catalytic systems. For instance, the integration of reduced graphene oxide (r-GO) with semiconductor materials like BiVO4 has shown promise in enhancing electron transfer and prolonging the lifespan of charge carriers, leading to improved photocatalytic efficiency[2]. Similarly, the use of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) derived catalysts has demonstrated high degradation efficiency for ciprofloxacin, showcasing the potential of metal-based catalysts in environmental remediation[3]. Furthermore, the activation of PMS by clay minerals has been investigated, revealing the importance of surface-bound radicals in rapid organic pollutant degradation[4]. In this context, the CuCoFe-LDO/BCD catalyst system represents a significant advancement by combining the benefits of metal-LDH and biomass-derived materials. The strong synergistic effect induced by BIEF not only enhances PMS activation but also ensures the high catalytic activity of the system. This innovative approach provides a cost-effective and efficient solution for antibiotic degradation, contributing to the broader goal of mitigating water pollution and its associated risks. Overall, the findings from Le Quy Don Technical University offer a promising avenue for the development of advanced catalytic systems for environmental applications. By leveraging the unique properties of biochar and metal-LDH, this study paves the way for more effective and sustainable water treatment technologies.

EnvironmentSustainabilityBiochem

References

Main Study

1) Enhancing catalytic activity of CuCoFe-layered double oxide towards peroxymonosulfate activation by coupling with biochar derived from durian peel for antibiotic degradation: the role of C=O in biochar and underlying mechanism of built-in electric field.

Published 27th May, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142452

Related Studies

2) Functional facet isotype junction and semiconductor/r-GO minor Schottky barrier tailored In2S3@r-GO@(040/110)-BiVO4 ternary hybrid.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2020.10.033

3) Metal-organic framework-derived CuCo/carbon as an efficient magnetic heterogeneous catalyst for persulfate activation and ciprofloxacin degradation.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127196

4) Surface-bound radical control rapid organic contaminant degradation through peroxymonosulfate activation by reduced Fe-bearing smectite clays.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121819


Related Articles

An unhandled error has occurred. Reload 🗙