Sustainable synthesis of NaA zeolite-modified MnFe2O4 for synergistic removal of NH4+ and tetracycline
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PUBLIC SUMMARY
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Coal fly ash is converted into a MnFe2O4/NaA composite for sustainable wastewater treatment.
The material removes ammonium (NH4+-N) and degrades tetracycline simultaneously.
Adsorption and photocatalysis work together to enhance pollutant removal efficiency.
The composite shows strong stability and can be reused multiple times.
This approach supports circular economy by turning waste into high-value materials.
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ABSTRACT
A sustainable hydrothermal strategy converts coal fly ash, an industrial byproduct, into MnFe2O4/NaA composite molecular sieves. Despite the promise of molecular sieve-based composites in water remediation, existing materials often lack sufficient recyclability, long-term stability, and a clear understanding of their regeneration mechanisms. This approach addresses these knowledge gaps and waste management while creating a material capable of simultaneously removing NH4+-N and photo-catalytically degrading tetracycline (TC). The composite demonstrates synergistic pollutant removal via integrated adsorption-photocatalysis. Comprehensive characterization confirmed the successful integration of MnFe2O4 nanoparticles within the NaA framework. The optimized 8% MnFe2O4/NaA composite achieved exceptional performance, with 66% NH4+-N removal and 89% TC degradation under optimal conditions. The processes followed pseudo-second-order kinetics, and radical trapping identified •OH as the dominant reactive species. Remarkably, the composite maintained high efficiency across multiple regeneration cycles, demonstrating robust stability and reusability. This work presents a novel, waste-derived material that aligns with circular economy principles by transforming fly ash into a high-value adsorbent/catalyst for wastewater treatment.-
Keywords:
- NaA zeolite /
- MnFe2O4 /
- Ammonia nitrogen adsorption /
- Tetracycline degradation
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REFERENCES
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Song Y., Xu B., Bao X., et al. (2026). Sustainable synthesis of NaA zeolite-modified MnFe2O4 for synergistic removal of NH4+ and tetracycline. The Innovation Energy 3:100151. https://doi.org/10.59717/j.xinn-energy.2026.100151
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Song Y., Xu B., Bao X., et al. (2026). Sustainable synthesis of NaA zeolite-modified MnFe2O4 for synergistic removal of NH4+ and tetracycline. The Innovation Energy 3:100151. https://doi.org/10.59717/j.xinn-energy.2026.100151
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Figure 1.
Flow chart for the preparation of MnFe2O4/NaA molecular sieves
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Figure 2.
(A) XRD patterns of NaA, MnFe2O4 and 8% MnFe2O4/NaA; (B) VSM spectrum of 8% MnFe2O4/NaA
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Figure 3.
(A) SEM images of MnFe2O4; (B) NaA; (C) 8% MnFe2O4/NaA; (D) 8% MnFe2O4/NaA (used after 4 cycles )
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Figure 4.
XPS analysis of MnFe2O4 and 8% MnFe2O4/NaA
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Figure 5.
Curves of MnFe2O4, NaA and 8% MnFe2O4
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Figure 6.
8%MnFe2O4/NaA on the performance of photocatalytic degradation of TC
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Figure 7.
(A) ROS quenching tests and (B) Removal performance of ammonia nitrogen and TC by 8% MnFe2O4/NaA after chemical regeneration (25 °C, pH=7.00, 75min, 50 mM H2O2, 20 mg·L−1 MnFe2O4/NaA)
