Magnetite Nanoparticles as Solar Photo-Fenton Catalysts for the Degradation of the 5-Fluorouracil Cytostatic Drug

• Published in: Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 12; no. 24; p. 4438
• Main Authors: Pérez-Poyatos, Lorena T, Morales-Torres, Sergio, Maldonado-Hódar, Francisco J, Pastrana-Martínez, Luisa M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 13.12.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: 5-Fluorouracil; Adsorption; Aqueous solutions; Catalysts; cytostatic drug; Deactivation; Degradation; Drinking water; Experiments; Fenton reaction; Fluorouracil; Hydrogen peroxide; iron catalyst; Iron oxides; Leaching; Magnetite; Mineralization; Morphology; Nanoparticles; Optical properties; Oxidation; Particle size; pH effects; photo-Fenton process; Physicochemical properties; Pore size; Radiation; Radiation dosage; Scanning electron microscopy; Solar radiation; Stability analysis; photo-Fenton process; Fenton reaction; solar radiation; iron catalyst; cytostatic drug
• ISSN: 2079-4991; 2079-4991
• DOI: 10.3390/nano12244438

Heterogeneous catalysts based on magnetite nanoparticles, Fe O , were prepared by the chemical coprecipitation method using iron (III) chloride as a salt precursor. The physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles were determined by different techniques and the efficiency was evaluated for the degradation of the cytostatic drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), in aqueous solution by photo-Fenton process under simulated solar radiation. The most influential parameters, namely pH of the solution, catalyst load, H O dosage, and use of radiation, were studied and optimized in the degradation process. The optimal conditions to achieve a 100% degradation of 5-FU (10 mg L ) and a high mineralization degree (76%) were established at the acidic pH of 3.0, 100 mg L of catalyst loading, and 58 mM of H O under simulated solar radiation. The contribution of iron leaching to the catalyst deactivation, the role of the dissolved iron ions on homogenous reactions, and the stability of the catalyst were assessed during consecutive reaction cycles.