Carbamazepine Degradation Mediated by Light in the Presence of Humic Substances-Coated Magnetite Nanoparticles

APARICIO, FRANCISCA; ESCALADA, JUAN PABLO; DE GERÓNIMO, EDUARDO; APARICIO, VIRGINIA C.; GARCÍA EINSCHLAG, FERNANDO S.; MAGNACCA, GIULIANA; CARLOS, LUCIANO; MÁRTIRE, DANIEL O.

Nanomaterials

Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)

Año: 2019 vol. 9

The use of iron-based nanomaterials for environmental remediation processes has recentlyreceived considerable attention. Here, we employed core-shell magnetite-humic acids nanoparticlesas a heterogeneous photosensitizer and iron source in photo-Fenton reaction for the degradation ofthe psychiatric drug carbamazepine (CBZ). CBZ showed low photodegradation rates in the presenceof the magnetic nanoparticles, whereas the addition of hydrogen peroxide at pH = 3 to the systemdrastically increased the abatement of the contaminant. The measured Fe2+ and Fe3+ profiles pointto the generation of Fe3+ at the surface of the nanoparticles, indicating a heterogeneous oxidationof the contaminant mediated by hydroxyl radicals. Products with a higher transformation degreewere observed in the photo-Fenton procedure and support the attack of the HO radical on the CBZmolecule. Promising results encourage the use of the nanoparticles as ecient iron sources withenhanced magnet-sensitive properties, suitable for applications in photo-Fenton treatments for thepurification of wastewater.