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This study investigated the synthesis of zinc ferrite immobilized on chitosan (ZnFe2O4@Chitosan) and its application in the photodegradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP), ampicillin (AMP) and erythromycin (ERY) in aqueous solution. Results from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed peaks suggesting its synthesis, while signals from X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed diffraction patterns confirming the synthesis of ZnFe2O4@Chitosan with a crystallite size of 35.14 nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a homogeneous morphology with a surface area of 12.96 m2 g−1 from the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis. The vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) result revealed a saturation magnetization of 2.38 emu g−1. The photodegradation study of CIP, AMP and ERY showed that both photodegradation and adsorption were taking place at the same time with the percentage degradation efficiency in the order CIP (99.80 ± 0.20%) > AMP (94.50 ± 0.10%) > ERY (83.20 ± 0.20%). ZnFe2O4@Chitosan exhibited high stability with capacity > 90% even at the 15th regeneration cycle, suggesting a viable economic value of ZnFe2O4@Chitosan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper ferrite (CuFe 2 O 4) was immobilized on chitosan to produce CuFe 2 O 4 @Chitosan for the removal of ciprofloxacin (CIP), ampicillin (AMP), and erythromycin (ERY) in water. Characterization of CuFe 2 O 4 @Chitosan by X-ray diffraction revealed the crystallite size of 18.12 nm. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area is 9.95 m2 g−1. The vibrating sample magnetometry revealed a saturation magnetization of 37.69 emu g−1. The degradation efficiency by CuFe 2 O 4 @Chitosan towards CIP (94.6 ± 0.50%), AMP (92 ± 1.00%) and ERY (90.30 ± 0.50) presents it as a promising photocatalyst for the removal of antibiotics in aqueous solutions. Regeneration capacity showed CuFe 2 O 4 @Chitosan to be a promising photocatalyst for removal of antibiotics in water. [Display omitted] • CuFe 2 O 4 @Chitosan was synthesized successfully via simple chemical reaction. • CuFe 2 O 4 @Chitosan photodegraded CIP, AMP and ERY in aqueous solution. • CuFe 2 O 4 @Chitosan exhibited high degradation efficiency towards CIP, AMP and ERY. • CuFe 2 O 4 @Chitosan showed high economic viability with good stability for reuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]