Breakthrough in Nanoparticle Technology for Bisphenol A Degradation

Researchers at Iran University of Medical Sciences have made a significant discovery in the field of nanotechnology, developing a novel method to degrade bisphenol A (BPA) using persulfate (PS) activated by nickel ferrite-anchored zinc oxide (ZnO@NiFeO) nanoparticles in the presence of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This breakthrough has the potential to mitigate the environmental risks and long-term health effects associated with BPA contamination. The study's findings have been published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Key Takeaways:

• The ZnO@NiFeO catalyst was synthesized using a co-precipitation method and characterized through various analytical techniques, including FESEM, EDS, XRD, VSM, DRS, TEM, and PL.
• The study examined several parameters, including solution pH, initial BPA concentration, and catalyst and PS dosages, to optimize the degradation process.
• Under optimal conditions, the removal efficiency and mineralization of BPA after 15 min were found to be 99.9% and 59.21%, respectively.
• The presence of interfering ions, such as nitrate, chloride, sulfate, carbonate, and bicarbonate, reduced the BPA degradation efficiency in the order of Cl (51.75%).
• The PS activated by ZnO@NiFeO/UV proved to be effective for BPA degradation due to its strong performance and high recovery capability.
• The study's authors, Ahmad Jonidi Jafari, Emad Dehghanifard, Babak Kakavandi, and Roshanak Rezaei Kalantary, highlighted the potential of this technology for mitigating the environmental risks associated with BPA contamination.

Statistics:

• 99.9% removal efficiency of BPA after 15 min
• 59.21% mineralization of BPA after 15 min under optimal conditions
• 51.75% reduction in BPA degradation efficiency due to the presence of chloride ions

Sources:

• Degradation of bisphenol a using zinc oxide decorated by nickel ferrite nanoparticles toward persulfate activation in the presence of ultraviolet radiation. Scientific Reports, 2025;15(1):20758. (Nature Publishing Group - www.nature.com/; Scientific Reports - www.nature.com/srep/)
• NewsRx. Iran University of Medical Sciences Reports Findings in Nanoparticles (Degradation of bisphenol a using zinc oxide decorated by nickel ferrite nanoparticles toward persulfate activation in the presence of ultraviolet radiation). Nanotechnology Weekly. July 14, 2025; p 1644.