Preparation of immobilized Cu₂O using microwave irradiation and its catalytic activity for bisphenol A: comparisons of Cu₂O/H₂O₂ and visible-light/Cu₂O/H₂O₂ systems

This study produced immobilized Cu₂O via microwave irradiation. The surface properties of Cu₂O were assessed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and UV–vis spectroscopy. The catalytic activity of the generated Cu₂O was examined for bisphenol (BPA) degradation in Cu₂O/H₂O₂ and visible-light/Cu₂O/H₂O₂ systems under various H₂O₂ concentrations. Cu₂O can decompose H₂O₂ to generate radicals, similar to the Fenton-like process. The BPA degradation rate followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. The optimal H₂O₂ concentration was 30 mM and the BPA degradation rate under 30 mM H₂O₂ in the Cu₂O/H₂O₂ and visible-light/Cu₂O/H₂O₂ systems was 1.43 and 2.69 h⁻¹, respectively. The original Cu₂O partly oxidized into CuO in the visible-light/Cu₂O/H₂O₂ system and the BPA degradation percentage declined to 51% from 100% after the fifth cycle.