The carbon-doped Fe3O4 montmorillonite particle electrode for the degradation of antiviral drugs in electro-Fenton system

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the extensive use of epidemic control drugs such as Arbidol (ARB) and Acyclovir (ACV) has significantly increased and the environmental pollution caused by these residues has attracted increasing attention. In this article, a novel montmorillonite graphene-like carbon hybrid Fe₃O₄ compound (Mt/GH/Fe₃O₄) as particle electrode catalyst was prepared and applied in three-dimensional-electro-Fenton (3D-EF) for the ARB and ACV degradation. The structure and composition of the compound catalyst were characterized. The degradation efficiency of targets was significantly increased in the 3D-EF degradation system and even more thorough for the degradation of targets, compared with simple 2D, 3D, and EF catalytic degradation systems. The degradation rate of antiviral drugs can reach >90% in 5 min with excellent stability. The research demonstrated that the clay mineral with a special structure loaded with graphene-like carbon and Fe₃O₄ had supplied an ideal reaction medium for the electro-Fenton reaction. Mt./GH/Fe₃O₄-based 3D-EF degradation system would have promising applications in the degradation and removal of antiviral drug residuals in the environment.