Magnesium Ferrite (MgFe2O4) Nanoparticles for Photocatalytic Antibiotics Degradation

Abstract

Abstract Removal of drug residuals in waste water by easy-separable catalysts is of fundamental interest for clean water provision by photocatalytic water remediation. Here, we present our studies to use the ferrimagnetic earth-abundant absorber MgFe2O4, prepared by microwave-assisted synthesis, for the photocatalytic removal of methylene blue and tetracycline from model solutions under dark and sunlight conditions. The surface of MgFe2O4 has a strong influence on the tetracycline removal, while more than 75% tetracycline degradation can already be achieved in 2 h with unmodified MgFe2O4. Using surface-modified MgFe2O4 nanoparticles, the adsorption of tetracycline is even more pronounced, however goes in line with release of the surface capping agent.