Photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin using CuFeO@methyl cellulose based magnetic nanobiocomposite.

Herein, magnetically separable CuFeO@methyl cellulose (MC) as a novel magnetic nanobiocomposite photocatalyst was synthesized with a facile, rapid, green, and new microwave-assisted method. After that, CuFeO@MC was characterized with FESEM, EDS, FT-IR, XRD, TGA, and VSM techniques. To measure CuFeO@MC photocatalytic activity, ciprofloxacin (CIP) removal ability of CuFeO@MC was investigated under the conditions such as initial CIP concentrations (3, 5, 7, and 9 mg/L), pHs (3, 7, and 11), photocatalyst loadings (0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 g), and irradiation time (15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 min). Kinetic process was evaluated with the first order and the - models. CIP concentration was measured with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The maximum CIP removal efficiency in the optimal conditions which contained pH = 7, CIP initial concentration of 3 mg/L, photocatalyst loading of 0.2 g, and at irradiation time 90 min was achieved 72.87 % and 80.74 % from real and synthetic samples, respectively. Also, COD removal efficiency in the optimal conditions was achieved 68.26 %. Furthermore, the CuFeO@MC reusability and chemical stability were examined and 73.78 % of CIP was degraded after the fourth cycle. •CuFeO@MC as a new nanobiomagnetic photocatalyst was synthesized with a facile, fast, and green method and were characterized with FESEM, EDS, FT-IR, XRD, TGA, and VSM techniques.•Ferromagnetic property and pure-phase spinel ferrites of CuFeO@MC were confirmed and significant photocatalytic activity of CuFeO@MC was observed.•Easily gathering, reusability and good chemical stability were interests of this nanobiomagnetic photocatalyst.