Peroxydisulfate activation by synergized modified AgCuFe2O4@GO nanoparticle electrode with anchored MnO2 in cefixime three-dimensional electrochemical degradation: Optimization and mechanisms

Majid Hashemi; Sahar Abolghasemi; Fatemeh Rahimi; Saeed Rajabi; Alireza Nasiri

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123978

Peroxydisulfate activation by synergized modified AgCuFe₂O₄@GO nanoparticle electrode with anchored MnO₂ in cefixime three-dimensional electrochemical degradation: Optimization and mechanisms

J Environ Manage. 2025 Jan 2:373:123978. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123978. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Majid Hashemi¹, Sahar Abolghasemi², Fatemeh Rahimi³, Saeed Rajabi⁴, Alireza Nasiri⁵

Affiliations

¹ Environmental Health Engineering Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Student Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Student Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ Environmental Health Engineering Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ Environmental Health Engineering Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39752955
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123978

Abstract

Cefixime (CFX) is a potent antibiotic against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria that resists degradation and typical removal procedures. This research aimed to synthesize a modified AgCuFe₂O₄@GO nanoparticle electrode with anchored MnO₂ for removing CFX by three-dimensional electrochemical oxidation. The physical and chemical characteristics of the nanocomposite were evaluated using various techniques, including FESEM, XRD, EDS-mapping, FTIR, BET, VSM, and TGA. The analysis found that the AgCuFe₂O₄@GO with anchored MnO₂ nanoparticle electrode has a large specific surface area, acceptable crystal structure, good magnetic characteristics, and a quasi-spherical form. At pH 5, 40 mg/L of CFX concentration, 0.4 g/L of the nanocomposite, 3 cm of electrode interval, 0.12 mM of persulfate electrolyte, and 12.5 mA/cm² of current density for 40 min, the process reached removal effectiveness of 97.1% for the synthetic sample and 90.7% removal efficiency for the actual sample, while had rate mineralization of 61.8% and 241.1 kWh/g energy consumption. Pseudo-first-order (R² = 0.997) and Langmuir-Hinshelwood (R² = 0.769) kinetic experiments provided values of K_C = 7.788 mg/L.min and K_L-H = 0.011 L/mg, respectively, confirming conformity to these models. The adsorption isotherms demonstrated that the CFX antibiotic complies with the Temkin model with an R² of 0.959. The particle electrode eliminated 86.1% of the contaminant over five cycles of regeneration and recovery, showcasing outstanding chemical stability. Throughout this process, persulfate functioned as both an oxidizing agent and an electrolyte, so amplifying the production of active radicals that degrade the pollutant and improve removal efficiency. Due to its magnetic properties, chemical stability, reusability, and high efficiency, modified AgCuFe₂O₄@GO with anchored MnO₂ is suggested for purifying industrial and medicinal wastewater.

Keywords: Cefixime; Manganese oxide; Nanoparticle electrode; Persulfate; Three-dimensional oxidation.