Using green nanocomposite containing eggshell in the electroperoxone process in a baffled reactor to remove the emerging tetracycline pollutant

This study examined the eradication of Tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) antibiotic, an emerging pollutant, by utilizing eggshell membrane activated carbon (EMAC) and magnetite (Fe3O4) nanocomposite in conjunction with the electroperoxone process employing the One Factor at a Time method (OFAT) in a baffled reactor. The nanocomposite was synthesized through the hydrothermal method using an autoclave, and its properties were assessed via XRD, FTIR, FESEM, EDAX Mapping, BET, and VSM analyses. The findings revealed that under optimal conditions (including a pollutant concentration of 300 mg/L, a natural pH of 6.2, an ozone consumption rate of 0.28 g/h, a nanocomposite concentration of 0.2 g/L, a flow intensity of 0.5 A, a wastewater recirculation flow rate of 8 L/h, and a 0.1 M Na2SO4 electrolyte concentration), 95.9%, 76.4%, and 53.4% of pollutants, COD, and TOC were respectively eliminated after 90 min. Additionally, the reusability of the nanocomposite was evaluated over five usage periods, during which the process efficiency decreased from 95.9% to 83.1%. In short, this study proved that EMAC/Fe3O4 nanocomposites are promising electroperoxone catalysts due to their low cost, excellent stability and reusability, environmental compatibility, and superior catalytic activity for TCH antibiotics removal. [Display omitted] •Utilization of nanocomposite derived from eggshell membranes in the electroperoxone process.•Integration of an adsorption process with catalytic electroperoxone.•Using a baffled reactor for the purpose of tetracycline pollutant removal.