The environment protection has been the starting point for the development of new technologies, which allow the control of highly toxic substances present in the effluents of various industries, whose removal is not feasible by conventional methods. In this research, mixed oxide catalysts Mn and Cu in different molar ratios were prepared from the autocombustion method and characterized by XRD, XRF, TPR-H₂, and N₂ adsorption–desorption isotherms. The solids were evaluated in the catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of crystal violet (CV) with mild conditions of reaction: 25 °C, normal pressure, airflow of 2 mL/min, and H₂O₂ 0.1 M (2 mL/h). The experimental results indicated degradations of 100% of CV, conversion of the total organic carbon (TOC) of 74%, and elimination of chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 71% in 90 min of reaction. Additionally, the selectivity was monitored by CG-MS, finding that there was almost complete mineralization in a short reaction time, generating intermediate products such as carboxylic acids, alcohols, and amines that do not cause a serious risk to the environment. The Mn–Cu catalyst with molar ratios of 1:2 was the most promising catalyst, displaying a cooperative effect between the two metals, and demonstrating the importance of the redox properties for the elimination of CV dye in wastewater.

Endocrine disruptors such as 17α-ethinylestradiol pose significant ecological risks in aquatic environments. This study assessed the catalytic performance of Fe- and Cu-impregnated delaminated clays (DCs) and layered double hydroxides (LDHs) in a Fenton-like process for EE2 removal. The effects of key parameters—including hydrogen peroxide concentration, initial contaminant load, and catalyst dosage—were analyzed using HPLC-QqTOF. Delaminated clays (DCs) demonstrated higher removal efficiencies compared to layered double hydroxides (LDHs), reaching 55% with Fe and 47% with Cu, while LDHs achieved 40% and 33% for Fe and Cu, respectively. Ecotoxicity was evaluated using bioassays (L. sativa, S. capricornutum, D. magna) and the Ames test. Notably, S. capricornutum exhibited 100% inhibition at the highest tested concentration, with IC₅₀ values of 11.2–12.4 for Cu and 31.5–32.7 for Fe. L. sativa was inhibited by Cu- and Fe-impregnated LDH/DC, with IC50 values of 71.0 (DC-Cu), 56.6 (DC-Fe), and 58.6 (LDH-Fe). D. magna exhibited 17–75% mortality when exposed to untreated EE2, while LC50 values confirmed Cu’s greater toxicity. The Ames test indicated no mutagenic effects. Integrating the Fenton-like process with complementary techniques is recommended to enhance efficiency. These findings highlight the need to optimize operational parameters for effective removal of 17α-ethinylestradiol.