This work aims to study the degradation of commonly used pharmaceutical contaminants in Chile through the Heterogeneous Solar Photo-Fenton process, utilizing nanometric-sized spinel ferrites as catalysts. Specifically, manganese ferrites (MnFe₂O₄), copper ferrites (CuFe₂O₄), and cobalt ferrites (CoFe₂O₄) will be synthesized, along with graphene-supported ferrite composites. The size, chemical composition, and morphology of these nanomaterials will be characterized. Additionally, the nanomaterials will be employed as heterogeneous catalysts in the Photo-Fenton process to degrade three emerging pharmaceutical contaminants in water: acetaminophen (analgesic), sulfamethoxazole (antibiotic), and hydrochlorothiazide (diuretic). The degradation of these pharmaceutical compounds will be monitored via HPLC-DAD following sample pretreatment.
This project addresses the global issues of water scarcity and contamination, focusing on the development of solutions for the removal of pharmaceutical pollutants from water sources. The Fenton process, an Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP), has been widely applied for the elimination of various organic contaminants. It operates through the generation of hydroxyl radicals from the decomposition of H₂O₂ in the presence of Fe²⁺ as a catalyst.