Mesoporous CoFe2O4 nanowires: Nanocasting synthesis, magnetic separation and enhanced catalytic degradation for ciprofloxacin

Abstract Mesoporous CoFe 2 O 4 nanowires (NWs) were prepared with ordered mesoporous SBA-15 silica, and then were used to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to degrade ciprofloxacin (CIP). All results showed that mesoporous CoFe 2 O 4 NWs efficiently activated PMS and greatly improved the degradation of CIP in aqueous solution. The influence of PMS and CoFe 2 O 4 on the CIP removal was taken into accounted, which indicated that the dominant sulfate radicals for the CIP degradation. Mesoporous-structure of CoFe 2 O 4 NWs could absorb CIP and PMS in high concentration near CoFe 2 O 4 NWs and promoted this degradation. The 100 ml CIP (20 mg/L) could be completely removal in the optimum conditions with 2 mM PMS and 0.3 g/L S-130, and the CIP removal presented the excellent recyclability with the CIP degradation as high as about 93% after four consecutive cycles. Owing to the high efficiency, excellent magnetic respond and good reusability, mesoporous-structured CoFe 2 O 4 NWs could be regarded as the promising heterogeneous catalysts for PMS to degrade CIP.