CuFe2O4 synthesis study and its application as a catalyst in photochemical reactions
Photocatalysis, AOP, copper ferrite, coprecipitation, 2,4-D.
Population growth and the need for food production to supply suppliers and industry has led to a high consumption of pesticides, among which we can mention herbicides. One of the most widely used herbicides in the world is 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). However, it has been reported in countries that use 2,4-D their presence in water resources and that this presence causes various impacts on animal and human health. Several treatment methods were used for the removal of 2,4-D from aqueous solutions. Among the applied methods, Advanced Oxidative Processes (AOP) showed the greatest potential for degradation of 2,4-D by chemical oxidation. The main advantages of AOP are that they operate at pressures and temperatures close to the environment and the possibility of generating oxidative radicals that serve to completely decompose organic pollutants, generating non-toxic products. Copper ferrite (CuFe2O4) has shown high efficiency in Advanced Oxidation Processes, with emphasis on photocatalysis and Fenton reaction. In this work copper ferrite (CuFe2O4) will be produced by the coprecipitation method, studying the best base/metal ratio for the formation of the catalytic phase. The catalyst will be studied in degradation reactions of the 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid herbicide (2,4-D) in aqueous solution by heterogeneous photocatalysis and heterogeneous Fenton process, both mediated by sunlight.