Self-driven degradation of TC-HCl by CuFe2O4/Bi2O3 activated peroxymonosulfate

CuFe2O4/Bi2O3 (hereinafter CFBO) was successfully synthesized by a straightforward sol–gel calcination approach based on citrate complexation in order to efficiently break down tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl) in organic effluent. When there was no light, the degradation rate of 60 min TC-HCl increased from 56.2% to 95.7%, and it had a wide pH application range (3–11). The degrading capacity of activated CFBO by peroxymonosulfate (PMS) was substantially superior than that of the Bi2O3/PMS system. The activation and recoverability of Bi2O3 were significantly enhanced by the magnetic transition metal composite CuFe2O4. The key reaction mechanism of the catalytic process of the CFBO/PMS system was the cycling of Cu(I) and Cu(II), Fe(II) and Fe(III), Bi(III), and Bi(V) species. This efficiently drove the formation of reactive oxygen radicals by CFBO/PMS. In addition, CFBO/PMS possesses strong chemical stability and only exhibits a 6.8% decline in degrading performance after four magnetic recoveries. A potential catalytic mechanism for the self-driven breakdown of TC-HCl by CFBO composite activated PMS is suggested in light of the aforementioned findings.