The Magnetic Catalyst CoFe ₂ O ₄ /CoFe@BC Derived from Loofah Exhibits High Efficiency in Degrading Levofloxacin

Abstract To mitigate pollution caused by levofloxacin (LVF) in aquatic environments, a magnetic catalyst, CoFe 2 O 4 /CoFe@BC (CF@BC), was synthesized using loofah‐derived biochar (BC) as a support, through coprecipitation followed by calcination at high temperatures. CF@BC was utilized for the degradation of LVF in aqueous solutions containing peroxymonosulfate (PMS), requiring no additional energy input. CF@BC demonstrates exceptional catalytic performance, even under acidic conditions, achieving a degradation rate of 98% within 4 min. Compared to pure CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles (CF), CF@BC exhibits smaller particle sizes and improved dispersion properties, enhancing the exposure of reactive sites. The degradability of the CF@BC/PMS system is nearly three times greater than that of the CF/PMS system under identical conditions. Furthermore, the CF@BC/PMS system demonstrated effective degradation of LVF across a wide initial pH range (3 to 9) and maintained high degradation efficiency after three cycles. Both Co(II)/Co(III) and Fe(III)/Fe(II) are involved in the activation process of PMS, with SO₄ •− and 1 O₂ being the predominant species contributing to degradation. Additionally, two pathways for the degradation of LVF have been proposed. The CF@BC/PMS system developed in this study can be effectively applied to remediate water contaminated by LVF.