Magnetite Nanoparticles as Solar Photo-Fenton Catalysts for the Degradation of the 5-Fluorouracil Cytostatic Drug Pérez Poyatos, Lorena T. Morales Torres, Sergio Maldonado Hodar, Francisco José Pastrana Martínez, Luisa María Iron catalyst Cytostatic drug Fenton reaction Photo-Fenton process Solar radiation Heterogeneous catalysts based on magnetite nanoparticles, Fe3O4, were prepared by the chemical coprecipitation method using iron (III) chloride as a salt precursor. The physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles were determined by different techniques and the efficiency was evaluated for the degradation of the cytostatic drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), in aqueous solution by photo-Fenton process under simulated solar radiation. The most influential parameters, namely pH of the solution, catalyst load, H2O2 dosage, and use of radiation, were studied and optimized in the degradation process. The optimal conditions to achieve a 100% degradation of 5-FU (10 mg L-1) and a high mineralization degree (76%) were established at the acidic pH of 3.0, 100 mg L-1 of catalyst loading, and 58 mM of H2O2 under simulated solar radiation. The contribution of iron leaching to the catalyst deactivation, the role of the dissolved iron ions on homogenous reactions, and the stability of the catalyst were assessed during consecutive reaction cycles. 2023-01-27T13:06:44Z 2023-01-27T13:06:44Z 2022-12-13 journal article Pérez-Poyatos, L.T... [et al.]. Magnetite Nanoparticles as Solar Photo-Fenton Catalysts for the Degradation of the 5-Fluorouracil Cytostatic Drug. Nanomaterials 2022, 12, 4438. [https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12244438] https://hdl.handle.net/10481/79420 10.3390/nano12244438 eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ open access Atribución 4.0 Internacional MDPI