Enhanced performance of heterogeneous fenton-like Co-Cu catalysts for metronidazole degradation: Ethylene glycol as a superior fabrication solvent

Abstract

This study addresses the gap in understanding of fabrication solvent influence on Cu-Co catalyst performance for MNZ degradation. By synthesizing recyclable Cu-Co catalysts using the co-precipitation method, the study investigates the impact of ethylene glycol (EG) solvent compared to conventional water (H2O) solvent. The optimized operational parameters resulted in stable and high MNZ degradation efficiency (above 90 % removal) with twice-feeding of 1600 ppm H2O2, pH ∼7.15, and 50 °C. The use of EG solvent enhances catalyst surface area, exposing more active sites with higher Cu+ and Cu2+ content, which incorporated in CoO6 environment with promoted redox property to facilitate H2O2 reaction and •OH production. This research contributes valuable insights into catalyst design and optimization, highlighting the potential of EG solvent for industrial application in antibiotic organic pollutant remediation.