Date of Submission
4-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Environmental Engineering
Department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Advisor
Cameron Oden, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Chong Qiu, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Hao Sun, Ph.D.
Keywords
Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), Thermal Degradation, Catalysts, Iron Oxides, Wastewater Contaminants, Degradation Efficiency
MeSH
Pharmaceutical Preparations, Cosmetics, Wastewater
LCSH
Toilet preparations, Drugs, Iron catalysts, Sewage--Purification
Abstract
This study investigates the thermal degradation of four pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) and the influence that iron oxides such as hematite and magnetite have on degradation efficiency as catalysts. The four PPCPs include caffeine, ibuprofen, carbamazepine, and sulfamethoxazole. These contaminants are prevalent in wastewater and in surface water systems due to insufficient removal during wastewater treatment before release into natural waters. Results confirm that temperatures above 400°C are highly effective in degrading all tested PPCPs. However, the addition of hematite and magnetite as catalytic media significantly enhanced degradation efficiency at lower temperatures. The effectiveness of each catalyst varied depending on the PPCP: magnetite performed best with caffeine and carbamazepine, while hematite was more effective for ibuprofen and sulfamethoxazole. These differences in degradation efficiency are likely due to chemical properties of the PPCPs, as well as the physical characteristics of the catalysts, including surface area, crystalline structure, and the pH of the reaction environment.
Recommended Citation
Diana, Allison, "Thermocatalytic Degradation of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) Using Hematite and Magnetite as a Reaction Catalyst" (2025). Master's Theses. 250.
https://digitalcommons.newhaven.edu/masterstheses/250