Application of once-through plug flow reactor in the fixed mode for the treatment of pharmaceutical drug-Phenazone using waste-driven visibly active composite

In the present study, a low-cost visibly active Fe-TiO₂ composite was prepared using waste material for the degradation of Phenazone (PHZ) a pharmaceutical drug using a once-through plug flow reactor. The reactors in the series model were employed and their performance was evaluated using analysis of RTD and was further optimized and cross-checked using BBD. The hybrid process was facilitated by the use of a composite material produced using natural fuller's earth and foundry waste sand (both natural sources of iron) with a TiO₂ layer on the outer surface. Analysis suggested a hybrid process in which •OH from both processes are generated simultaneously, which contributes to faster removal. The best possible optimized conditions for three reactors in series were obtained at a flow rate of 10 L h⁻¹, H₂O₂ dosage of 200 mg L^−1, and 80% exposed surface area to achieve the maximum removal of PHZ. The retaining of hybrid catalytic activity under critical flow conditions, even after 250 recycles, verifies its credentials for handling real conditions. The application of composite materials through PFR broadens understanding of the hybrid process of photocatalysis and photo-Fenton on large scale at affordable costs for degradation of various contaminants.