Enhanced levofloxacin degradation through Fenton-like process using Fe-silica pillared clay catalyst

In our endeavor to improve the efficiency of the Fenton-like process for the degradation of levofloxacin (LVX), a comprehensive study was conducted on the applicability of a heterogeneous catalyst: iron-containing silica pillared clay (Fe-SPC). Optimization experiments showed that an optimal and cost-effective Fe content of 10 wt% significantly improved the catalyst efficiency. A comprehensive characterization, to determine porous properties, chemical composition, morphological and visual appearance, highlighted the special features of the catalyst compared to raw clay and silica pillared clay. When investigating the effects of operating parameters on adsorptive and oxidative properties, it was found that the optimum conditions were 0.5 g/L Fe-SPC at pH 3 and 40 °C using 500 mg/L hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). This resulted in an impressive average removal of 90% levofloxacin from a 50 mg/L LVX solution after 180 min in at least 5 consecutive runs without additional treatment. Scavenging and total organic carbon tests confirmed the involvement of hydroxyl radicals and the formation of intermediates prior to complete mineralization.