Performance of a novel microwave-based treatment technology for atrazine removal and destruction: Sorbent reusability and chemical stability, and effect of water matrices

- Cu2+ and Fe3+ in zeolite pores enhance atrazine sorption and MW-induced degradation.
- Exchanged zeolites perform well over multiple sorption-regeneration cycles.
- Fe3+ species in the zeolite micropores have much greater stability than those of Cu2+.
- DOC in natural waters can compromise the sorption capacity of exchanged zeolites.
- Iron-exchanged dealuminated Y zeolites hold great promise for practical applications.