Pyrite nanoparticles derived from mine waste as efficient catalyst for the activation of persulfates for degradation of tetracycline

Pyrite mine waste was used as a non-toxic and natural catalyst for the activation of peroxydisulfate (PDS) and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to oxidize tetracycline (TTC), one of the most extensively used antibiotics worldwide, in contaminated water. The results demonstrated that PMS was activated more effectively than PDS by using pyrite. Scavenging experiments indicated that both OW and SO4 center dot- were the main oxidative species in the pyrite/PMS process, while SO4 center dot- was more dominant. A high degradation of 98.3 % and significant mineralization (up to 46 %) of TTC (50 mg/L) were achieved using pyrite activated PMS at a reaction time of 30 and 60 min, respectively. In-vivo toxicity of raw and pyrite/PMS treated TTC solutions was evaluated using biochemical and histopathological assays. The results revealed that the pyrite/PMS process significantly decreased the nephrotoxicity (90 %) and hepatotoxicity (85 %) effect of TTC. Catalyst reusability was evaluated under cycling conditions. No significant decrease in process efficiency was measured between the first and fourth cycle (<3% decrease in TTC removal). In conclusion, mine waste pyrite nanoparticles can be considered as a non-toxic and clean catalyst to activate PMS for an effective detoxification, degradation, and intermediate mineralization of TTC, as a refractory water pollutant.

Automated summary

The study showed that using pyrite mine waste as a catalyst for oxidizing tetracycline in contaminated water is effective, with PMS being more suitable for activation compared to PDS. Activating PMS with pyrite can efficiently degrade TTC and significantly reduce its nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity effects. Additionally, the catalyst showed high reusability efficiency under cycling conditions.