Activated carbon fiber for heterogeneous activation of persulfate: implication for the decolorization of azo dye

Persulfate activation with biochar supported nanoscale zero- valent iron: Engineering application for effective degradation of NCB in soil

Nitrochlorobenzene (NCB) is very common in pesticide and chemical industries, which has become a major problem in soil environment. However, the remediation of NCB contaminated soil is received finite concern. Using biochar as a substrate for nanoscale-zero valent iron (nZVI/p-BC) to activate peroxodisulfate (PDS), a novel heterogeneous oxidative system had been applied in the current study to remediate NCB contaminants in soil. The degradation efficiencies and kinetics of m-NCB, p-NCB, and o-NCB by various systems were contrasted in soil slurry. Key factors including the dosage of nZVI/p-BC, the molar ratio of nZVI/PDS, initial pH and temperature on degradation of NCB were further examined. The results confirmed that the nZVI/p-BC/PDS displayed the remarkable performance for removing NCB compared with other systems. Higher temperature with nZVI/PDS molar ratio of 2:1 under the acidic condition favored the reduction of NCB. The treatment for NCB with optimal conditions were evaluated for the engineering application. The mechanism of nZVI/p-BC/PDS indicated that electron transfer between p-BC and nZVI was responsible for activation of PDS, generating active species (SO4•-, •OH and 1O2) via both the free and non-free radical pathways. Experimental results revealed prominent availability of nZVI/p-BC/PDS system in remediation of actual contaminated field by NCB.

Development of persulfate-based advanced oxidation processes to remove synthetic azo dyes from aqueous matrices

Azo dyes are largely used in many industries and discharged in large volumes of their effluents into the aquatic environment giving rise to non-esthetic pollution and health-risk problems. Due to the high stability of azo dyes in ambient conditions, they cannot be abated in conventional wastewater treatment plants. Over the last fifteen years, the decontamination of dyeing effluents by persulfate (PS)-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) has received a great attention. In these methods, PS is activated to be decomposed into sulfate radical anion (SO4•-), which is further partially hydrolyzed to hydroxyl radical (•OH). Superoxide ion (O2•-) and singlet oxygen (1O2) can also be produced as oxidants. This review summarizes the results reported for the discoloration and mineralization of synthetic and real waters contaminated with azo dyes covering up to November 2023. PS activation with iron, non-iron transition metals, and carbonaceous materials catalysts, heat, UVC light, photocatalysis, photodegradation with iron, electrochemical and related processes, microwaves, ozonation, ultrasounds, and other processes is detailed and analyzed. The principles and characteristics of each method are explained with special attention to the operating variables, the different oxidizing species generated yielding radical and non-radical mechanisms, the addition of inorganic anions and natural organic matter, the aqueous matrix, and the by-products identified. Finally, the overall loss of toxicity or partial detoxification of treated azo dye solutions during the PS-based AOPs is discussed.

Enhanced Rhodamine B degradation by GAC/Mn-Sn particles electrodes

Rhodamine B (RhB) wastewater could be degraded by a three-dimensional electrolytic reactor with surface-modified titanium anodes, and a variety of materials had been tried to prepare for particles electrodes to enhance its removal effects, among them, granular activated carbon (GAC) with large specific surface areas and stable chemical properties was selected as particles materials and coated by manganese oxidation (Mn) as the main active ingredient. The experimental results showed that 98.3% of RhB and 60.7% of chemical oxygen demand were removed respectively, and the RhB wastewater's biodegradability was improved either. On the superficial sites of GAC/Mn-Sn particles, hydroxyl radicals were generated, and some absorbed RhB molecular was initially decolored by hypochlorite removing the two ethyl groups on both sides of the molecular, then oxidized by hydroxyl, and continually decomposed by these strong oxidants into a variety of intermediates.

Eco-friendly approach for efficient catalytic degradation of organic dyes through peroxymonosulfate activated with pistachio shell-derived biochar and activated carbon

This study introduces a simple method for the preparation of biochar (BCP) and activated carbon using pistachio (ACP) external hull as residual solid waste. Low-cost raw materials, biodegradable, recyclable and organic solid wastes are advantages of this method. Furthermore, complete degradation of methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB) to H₂O and CO₂ as eco-friendly compounds in mild reaction condition occurs at a short time. Also, the effects of crucial parameters (temperature, time, catalyst dosage, initial dye and oxidant concentration, initial reaction pH level and radical scavengers), capability, adaptability, performance and reusability of ACP were also evaluated. The results displayed that dyes could be decomposed effectively by the PMS/ACP-800 system. Furthermore, the sulphate radical (SO4∙-) was a major active role in the degradation process, while hydroxyl radical (^•OH) played a minor role. Overall, ACP had yielded high degradation of MB and MO dyes; therefore, ACP-800 could be effectively and reliably applied in the treatment of industry effluents containing MB and MO dyes.

Preparation of Graphite-UiO-66(Zr)/Ti electrode for efficient electrochemical oxidation of tetracycline in water

Tetracycline (TC) is widely-used antibiotic pollutant with high toxicity, refractory, persistence and bacteriostasis, and its removal from water needs to be enhanced. In this work, a novel Graphite-UiO-66(Zr)/Ti electrode was successfully prepared and evaluated for electrochemical oxidation degradation of TC. The electrochemical performance tests indicate the Graphite-UiO-66(Zr)/Ti electrode had higher electrochemical oxidation activity, which achieved higher TC removal efficiency (98.1% ± 1.5%) than Ti plate (65.2% ± 3.5%), Graphite-MIL-53(Al)/Ti electrode (79.5% ± 2.9%) and Graphite-MIL-100(Fe)/Ti electrode (89.0% ± 2.6%). The influence of operating condition was also systematically studied, and the optimized condition was pH 5.0, 20 mA/cm2 current density and 0.1 M electrolyte (Na2SO4). Through the liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS), the TC degradation pathway by Graphite-UiO-66(Zr)/Ti electrode oxidation was proposed. Under the •OH free radical oxidative decomposition effect, the double bond, phenolic group and amine group of TC were attacked. TC was transformed into intermediate product ① (m/z = 447), then was further degraded to intermediates ② (m/z = 401) and ③ (m/z = 417). The latter was fragmented into small fractions ④ (m/z = 194), ⑤but-2-enedioic acid (m/z = 116) and ⑥oxalic acid (m/z = 90, the proposed intermediate). In addition, TC removal remained at 89.6% ± 2.7% in the sixth cycle of operation, which confirmed the efficient reusability and stability for antibiotics removal from water.

A comprehensive review on persulfate activation treatment of wastewater

With increasingly serious environmental pollution and the production of various wastewater, water pollutants have posed a serious threat to human health and the ecological environment. The advanced oxidation process (AOP), represented by the persulfate (PS) oxidation process, has attracted increasing attention because of its economic, practical, safety and stability characteristics, opening up new ideas in the fields of wastewater treatment and environmental protection. However, PS does not easily react with organic pollutants and usually needs to be activated to produce oxidizing active substances such as sulfate radicals (SO₄^-) and hydroxyl radicals (OH) to degrade them. This paper summarizes the research progress of PS activation methods in the field of wastewater treatment, such as physical activation (e.g., thermal, ultrasonic, hydrodynamic cavitation, electromagnetic radiation activation and discharge plasma), chemical activation (e.g., alkaline, electrochemistry and catalyst) and the combination of the different methods, putting forward the advantages, disadvantages and influencing factors of various activation methods, discussing the possible activation mechanisms, and pointing out future development directions.

Persulfate-nitrogen doped graphene mixture as an oxidant for the synthesis of 3-nitro-4-aryl-2H-chromen-2-ones from aryl alkynoate esters and nitrite

A series of 3-nitro-4-aryl-2H-chromen-2-ones in good yields have directly been obtained from aryl alkynoate esters and nitrite by employing a mixture of K₂S₂O₈-nitrogen doped graphene as an oxidant in a watery medium at room temperature. A plausible mechanism for the reaction is also reported. It reveals that the product is formed through a cascade of nitro radical addition, spirocyclization, and ester migration. When compared to known methods for the synthesis of 3-nitro-4-aryl-2H-chromen-2-ones from aryl alkynoate esters, this protocol is environmentally friendly, sustainable, practical and energy efficient and does not use a harmful nitro source. Furthermore, nitrogen doped graphene used in this approach can be easily recovered and reused at least four times without losing its activity.

Layered double hydroxide based materials applied in persulfate based advanced oxidation processes: Property, mechanism, application and perspectives

Recently, persulfate-based advanced oxidation processes (persulfate-AOPs) are booming rapidly due to their promising potential in treating refractory contaminants. As a type of popular two-dimensional material, layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are widely used in energy conversion, medicine, environment remediation and other fields for the advantages of high specific surface area (SSA), good tunability, biocompatibility and facile fabrication. These excellent physicochemical characteristics may enable LDH-based materials to be promising catalysts in persulfate-AOPs. In this work, we make a summary of LDHs and their composites in persulfate-AOPs from different aspects. Firstly, we introduce different structure and important properties of LDH-based materials briefly. Secondly, various LDH-based materials are classified according to the type of foreign materials (metal or carbonaceous materials, mainly). Latterly, we discuss the mechanisms of persulfate activation (including radical pathway and nonradical pathway) by these catalysts in detail, which involve (i) bimetallic synergism for radical generation, (ii) the role of carbonaceous materials in radical generation, (iii) singlet oxygen (¹O₂) production and several special nonradical mechanisms. In addition, the catalytic performance of LDH-based catalysts for contaminants are also summarized. Finally, challenges and future prospects of LDH-based composites in environmental remediation are proposed. We expect this review could bring new insights for the development of LDH-based catalyst and exploration of reaction mechanism.

Integration of heterogeneous photocatalysis and persulfate based oxidation using TiO2-reduced graphene oxide for water decontamination and disinfection

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) which involve the generation of highly reactive free radicals have been considered as a promising technology for the decontamination of water from chemical and bacterial pollutants. In this study, integration of two major AOPs viz., heterogeneous photocatalysis involving TiO2-reduced graphene oxide (T-RGO) nanocomposite and activated persulfate (PS) based oxidation was attempted to remove diclofenac (DCF), a frequently detected pharmaceutical contaminant in water. The enhanced visible light responsiveness of T-RGO would facilitate the use of direct sunlight as a benign and cost effective source of energy for the photocatalytic activation. By combining PS based oxidation process with T-RGO mediated photocatalysis, a DCF removal efficiency of more than 98% was achieved within 30 min. The effect of operating parameters like PS concentration and pH on DCF removal was assessed. Radical scavenging experiments indicated that apart from radical oxidation involving •OH andSO 4 · - radicals, a non-radical oxidation pathway was also taking place in the degradation. The antibacterial properties of the integrated system were also evaluated using Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as representative bacteria. The presence of PS in the photocatalytic reaction system improved the antibacterial activity of the composite against the two strains studied. Cytotoxicity of T-RGO nanocomposite was assessed using human macrophage cell lines and the results showed that the composite is biocompatible and nontoxic at the recommended dosage for water treatment in the present study.

Persulfate-activated charcoal mixture: an efficient oxidant for the synthesis of sulfonated benzo[d][1,3]oxazines from N-(2-vinylphenyl)amides and thiols in aqueous solution

A series of 2,4-aryl-4-((arylsulfonyl)methyl)-4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazines in good to excellent yields have directly been obtained from N-(2-vinylphenyl)amides and thiols by employing a mixture of K₂S₂O₈-activated charcoal in aqueous acetonitrile solution at 50 °C. A plausible mechanism for the reaction is reported. It reveals that the reaction follows a radical pathway and the persulfate has been the oxygen source for formation of the sulfone group in the products. It is worth mentioning that this protocol utilizes an easily accessible K₂S₂O₈-activated charcoal mixture and thiols, respectively, as an oxidant and sulfonylating precursors for the first time.

The defluorination of perfluorooctanoic acid by different vacuum ultraviolet systems in the solution

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is one kind of persistent organic pollutants that is often detected in water. In recent years, the effective degradation technologies of PFOA have attracted widespread attentions. Thus, in this study, the defluorination efficiency of PFOA in different systems (i.e., ultraviolet (UV), vacuum ultraviolet (VUV), vacuum ultraviolet/persulfate (VUV/PS) and vacuum ultraviolet/residual chlorine (VUV/RC)) was evaluated. Moreover, the different impact factors (i.e., the initial concentrations of persulfate and PFOA, temperature, anions, and initial pH values) on PFOA degradation by VUV/PS system were investigated. The results showed that VUV system was more effective than UV system for PFOA defluorination. VUV system combined with persulfate would further enhance the defluorination efficiency while residual chlorine would decrease it. In VUV/PS system, the defluorination efficiency of PFOA was the best as the molar ratio of PFOA and persulfate at 1:60. Moreover, higher temperature, lower initial PFOA concentration, and acid condition were favorable for the defluorination of PFOA. Under the different influence factors, the defluorination efficiency of PFOA fitted well to the first-order reaction kinetic model. When the temperature was range from 20°C to 40°C, the value of activation energy was 8.73 kJ/mol. Besides, the inhibition effect of three kinds of anions on PFOA defluorination followed the order: NO 3 -  > Cl^-  >  CO 3 2 - . PRACTITIONER POINTS: The defluorination efficiency of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in water by different VUV systems was compared. VUV system is more effective than UV system for PFOA defluorination. Persulfate will enhance the defluorination efficiency by VUV system. Hypochlorite will decrease the defluorination efficiency by VUV system.

Facile synthesis of layered Co(OH)2 deposited g-C3N4 for activating peroxymonosulfate to degrade organic pollutants

Layered Co(OH)2 deposited g-C3N4 is found to be highly active in the activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for pollutant removal.

Activation of persulfate by nanoscale zero-valent iron loaded porous graphitized biochar for the removal of 17β-estradiol: Synthesis, performance and mechanism

In this work, the porosity, graphitization and iron doping of biochar were realized simultaneously by the pyrolysis of biomass and potassium ferrate (K₂FeO₄), then the iron-doped graphitized biochar was reduced to synthesize nanoscale zero-valent iron loaded porous graphitized biochar (nZVI/PGBC). 17β-estradiol (E2) is an environmental endocrine disruptor that can cause great harm to the environment in small doses. Experiments illustrated that nZVI/PGBC (100 mg/L) could completely remove E2 (3 mg/L) within 45 min by activating sodium persulfate (PS, 400 mg/L). The E2 removal efficiency of nZVI/PGBC was obviously superior to that of pristine biochar (BC), iron-doped graphitized biochar (Fe/GBC), nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) and porous graphitized biochar (PGBC). The removal efficiency could be affected by reaction conditions, including reaction temperature, acidity, dosage of catalyst and oxidant and water matrix. Quenching experiments and electron spin resonance (ESR) demonstrated that SO₄^-· and HO were both responsible for E2 degradation. This study indicated that Fe⁰ and Fe²⁺ were the main catalytic active substances, while the catalytic ability of PGBC was not obvious. The reaction mechanism was proposed, that is, PS was activated by electrons provided by the redox reaction between Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺, and PGBC acted as the carrier of nZVI, the adsorbent of E2 and the mediator of electron-transfer. This study demonstrates that nZVI/PGBC can be used as an effective activator for PS to remove organic pollutants in water.

High-efficiency degradation of organic pollutants with Fe, N co-doped biochar catalysts via persulfate activation

In this study, the Fe, N co-doped biochar (Fe-N-BC) was prepared by pyrolyzing wheat straw, urea and iron salts and used to activate persulfate (peroxydisulfate, PS) for organic contaminant degradation. Iron oxide doping not only introduced magnetism into the biochar for easy separation, but also influenced its catalytic ability for PS activation. In the Fe-N-BC/PS system, almost all acid orange (AO7) was removed within 90 min with an apparent rate constant (k_obs) of 0.114 min^-1, which was almost 37 times larger than that of pure N-BC (0.003 min^-1). Factors influencing the removal of AO7 were investigated, including PS concentration, catalyst dosage, and initial pH. The Fe-N-BC/PS system had high removal efficiencies for various organic contaminants and showed high resistance to inorganic anions in aquatic environments. The radical quenching studies, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements, and electrochemical analyses verified that the mechanism of AO7 degradation in the Fe-N-BC/PS system included both radical and non-radical pathways involving the generation of OH, SO₄^-, O₂^-, ¹O₂, and electron transfer. Additionally, persistent free radicals (PFRs) on the catalysts also related to their catalytic efficiencies. These results demonstrated that the Fe-N-BC/PS system had the potential for wastewater treatment applications.

Heterogeneous degradation of organic contaminant by peroxydisulfate catalyzed by activated carbon cloth

An eco-friendly material, activated carbon cloth (ACC) was used as the heterogeneous catalyst in activation of peroxydisulfate (PDS) for the efficient degradation of organic pollutant in water. Besides, the effects of several parameters in the ACC/PDS process including initial pH, PDS concentration, reaction temperature, stirring speed and co-existing anions were investigated. Under optimum conditions, almost complete removal (98.6%) of AO7 in 60 min and 67.4% of total organic carbon (TOC) removal within 180 min were obtained, accompanied by the remarkable destruction of azo band and naphthalene ring on AO7. The electron paramagnetic resonance and radical quenching experiments were carried out to identify the reactive radicals in the ACC/PDS process. Surface characteristic techniques such as XRD, BET, SEM, FTIR, XPS were applied to analysis the change of crystal structure, surface area, surface morphology, functional groups on the surface of fresh and spent ACC samples. Hydroxyl groups (C‒OH) and π-π transitions significantly affected the catalytic activity of ACC. The intermediate products of AO7 oxidation were identified by LC-MS and the corresponding degradation pathway was proposed.

Risk Evaluation of Pyrolyzed Biochar from Multiple Wastes

This paper aims at demonstrating the significance of biochar risk evaluation and reviewing risk evaluation from the aspects of pyrolysis process, feedstock, and sources of hazards in biochar and their potential effects and the methods used in risk evaluation. Feedstock properties and the resultant biochar produced at different pyrolysis process influence their chemical, physical, and structural properties, which are vital in understanding the functionality of biochar. Biochar use has been linked to some risks in soil application such as biochar being toxic, facilitating GHGs emission, suppression of the effectiveness of pesticides, and effects on soil microbes. These potential risks originate from feedstock, contaminated feedstock, and pyrolysis conditions that favor the creation of characteristics and functional groups of this nature. These toxic compounds formed pose a threat to human health through the food chain. Determination of toxicity levels is a first step in the risk management of toxic biochar. Various sorption methods of biochar utilized low-cost adsorbents, engineered surface functional groups, and nZVI modified biochars. The mechanisms of organic compound removal was through sorption, enhanced sorption, modified biochar, postpyrolysis thermal air oxidation and that of PFRs degradation was through activation, photoactive functional groups, magnetization, and hydrothermal synthesis. Emissions of GHGs in soils amended with biochar emanated through physical and biotic mediated mechanisms. BCNs have a significance in reducing the health quotient indices for PTEs risk contamination by suppressing cancer risk arising from consumption of contaminated food. The degree of environmental risk assessment of HM pollution in biomass and biochars has been determined by using potential ecological risk index and RAC while organic contaminant degradation by EPFRs was considered when assessing the environmental roles of biochar in regulating the fate of contaminants removal. The magnitude of technologies’ net benefit must be considered in relation to the associated risks.

Persulfate activation with sawdust biochar in aqueous solution by enhanced electron donor-transfer effect

In addition to its strong adsorption capacity, the biochar-induced catalytic degradation of contaminants has attracted considerable attention recently. However, the mechanism and influential factors are poorly understood. This study investigated the persulfate (PS) activation performance of sawdust biochar (SBC) pyrolyzed at different temperatures (SBC-300 to SBC-700, respectively.) in acid orange 7 (AO7) degradation and found the main activation mechanism of it. The results demonstrated the degradation efficiency of PS/SBC system increased with the increasing SBC pyrolysis temperature. Moreover, the degradation rates of AO7 in the system could be even increased from 7% (SBC-300) to over 90% (SBC-700) under the optimum dosage of PS (9 mmol/L) and SBC (1.5 g/L). The reaction mainly took place in the pore and near the surface of SBC which was defined as graphite electron donor-transfer complex in this study, and graphite holes played a decisive role in the reaction. Besides, SO₄^- and OH were the active radicals participating in the reaction. It was found that comparing with the oxygen function groups and persistent free radicals (PFRs) of SBC, the electrical conductivity and electron donor ability were playing the main roles in enhancing PS activation with biochar pyrolyzed at high temperature for AO7 degradation.

Carbon-based magnetic nanocomposite as catalyst for persulfate activation: a critical review

The activation of persulfate to produce active radicals has been attracting wide attention in environmental remediation fields. Among various catalysts, non-metal carbocatalysts and carbon-based composites have shown attractive prospects given that they are environmental-friendly, highly efficient, abundant, and diverse. In this paper, the use of carbon-based magnetic nanocomposites as catalysts for persulfate activation was reviewed and discussed. The preparation methods of carbon-based magnetic nanocomposites were first briefly summarized. Subsequently, the use of activated carbon, carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide, biochar, and nanodiamond-based magnetic composites to activate persulfate was discussed, respectively. A synergetic effect between carbon materials and magnetic nanoparticles facilitated the activation process because of the increased electron transfer capacity, good dispersity of magnetic nanoparticles, and good repeatability and separability. Both radical and non-radical pathways were detected in the activation processes, but the specific mechanisms were greatly influenced by the components of the catalyst and solution conditions. And fundamental studies were needed to clarify the inner mechanisms of the process. In the end, strategies for enhancing the catalytic performances of carbon-based magnetic nanocomposites were suggested. It is expected that this review will provide some inspirations for developing highly efficient and green catalyst, as well as sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation technology for the remediation water environment.

Acceleration of Persulfate Activation by MIL-101(Fe) with Vacuum Thermal Activation: Effect of FeII/FeIII Mixed-Valence Center

In this work, the activation effect of vacuum thermal treatment on MIL-101(Fe) (MIL: Materials of Institute Lavoisier) was investigated for the first time. It demonstrated that vacuum thermal activation could accelerate the activation of persulfate (PS) by MIL-101(Fe), and the enhancement of the catalytic capacity of MIL-101(Fe) was mainly attributed to the change in the FeII/FeIII mixed-valence center. The results of the SEM and XRD showed that vacuum thermal activation had a negligible effect on the crystal structure and particle morphology of MIL-101(Fe). Meanwhile, the higher temperature of vacuum thermal activation caused a higher relative content ratio of FeII/FeIII. A widely used azo dye, X-3B, was chosen as the probe molecule to investigate the catalytic performance of all samples. The results showed that the activated samples could remove X-3B more effectively, and the sample activated at 150 °C without regeneration could effectively activate PS to remove X-3B for at least 5 runs and approximately 900 min. This work highlights the often-overlooked activation effect of vacuum thermal treatment and provides a simple way to improve the catalytic capacity and reusability of MIL-101(Fe) which is beneficial for the application of MIL-101(Fe)/PS systems in azo dye wastewater treatment.

Sunflower stalk-derived biochar enhanced thermal activation of persulfate for high efficient oxidation of p-nitrophenol

Sunflower stalk-derived biochars (BC) were prepared at various temperatures (i.e., 500, 650, and 1000 °C) and demonstrated as a highly efficient catalyst in persulfate (PS) activation for the oxidation of p-nitrophenol (PNP) at 60 °C. The apparent PNP oxidation rate constant in the BC500 (0.1543 L mol^-1 S^-1), BC650 (0.6062 L mol^-1 S^-1), or BC1000 (2.1379 L mol^-1 S^-1) containing PS system was about 2, 8 and 28 times higher than that in PS/PNP (0.0751 L mol^-1 S^-1) system, respectively. The effect of reaction temperature on PNP oxidation was also investigated. Furthermore, the radical quenching tests and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) were employed to investigate the sulfate and hydroxyl radicals for PNP oxidation. The Raman results suggested that the defective sites on biochars possess vital role for oxidation of PNP in PS system. The possible activation pathway of PS/BC was proposed that the defective sites on BC were involved for weakening the O-O bond in PS and subsequently cleaving O-O bond by heat to generate sulfate radical. The oxidation of PNP at low concentration (below 100 μg L^-1) was completely removed in urban wastewater by PS/BC system within 30 min. This work would provide new insights into PS activation by BC catalyst and afford a promising method for organic pollutant removal in high-temperature wastewater.

Degradation of emerging contaminants by Co (III) ions in situ generated on anode surface in aqueous solution

Cobalt ion is an environmental contaminant in general. But interestingly, it can also be used to degrade some refractory organic contaminants in water by mediated electrochemical oxidation process (MEOP) based on Co (III). MEOP is a very promising technology, and it can recycling use the mediator ions, Co (III), to degrade refractory organic contaminants in water. However, previous studies for this technology mainly conducted in strong acidic medium, the oxidation ability of this process for emerging contaminants near neutral pH condition was still unclear. Therefore, this study evaluated the emerging contaminants removal and mineralization efficiency of the MEOP-Co (III) around neutral pH, and investigated systematically the influence of series of operating parameters, including initial Co (II) concentration, current density, initial pH, electrolyte, and anions. Results from these studies indicated that the MEOP-Co (III) had a fairly good contaminants removal and mineralization ability for sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, carbamazepine, diclofenac, and phenol at neutral pH. Besides, no radical was detected in MEOP-Co (III), and the main oxidizing substance was Co (III) ions, which was generated on anode surface. The addition of CO₃^2-/HCO₃^- could weaken the oxidation ability of MEOP-Co (III), while Cl^- and PO₄^3- could enhance the system's oxidation ability. Moreover, a reasonable energy consumption was achieved in MEOP-Co (III), and the highest electric energy per order (EE/O) value was 2.4 kWh·m^-3 in this study.

Optimization and mechanism of Acid Orange 7 removal by powdered activated carbon coupled with persulfate by response surface method

In this study, powder activated carbon (PAC) utilized to activate peroxydisulfate (PDS) was investigated for decolorization of Acid Orange 7 (AO7). The results indicated a remarkable synergistic effect in the PAC/PDS system. The effect of PAC, PDS dosages and initial pH on AO7 decolorization were studied and the processes followed first-order kinetics. Response surface method with central composite design (CCD) model was utilized to optimize these three factors and analyze the combined interaction. The optimum condition for the decolorization rate of AO7 was analyzed as the following: PAC (0.19 g/L), PDS (1.64 g/L), and initial pH (4.14). Cl^- and SO₄ ^2- showed a promoting effect on AO7 decolorization while HCO₃ ^- had a slightly inhibiting effect. Quenching experiments confirmed that both sulfate and hydroxyl radicals were the oxidizing species, and the oxidation reaction occurred on the surface of PAC. The results of UV-vis spectrum with 100% decolorization rate and the 50% total organic carbon reduction indicated highly efficient decolorization and mineralization of AO7 in the PAC/PDS system. Finally, the recovery performance of PAC was studied and the result indicated PAC had poor reuse in reactivity.

Application of nickel foam-supported Co3O4-Bi2O3 as a heterogeneous catalyst for BPA removal by peroxymonosulfate activation

Nickel foam (NF)-functionalized Co₃O₄-Bi₂O₃ nanoparticles (CBO@NF) synthesized using a facile one-step microwave-assistant method were employed as catalysts to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) with bisphenol A (BPA) as the target pollutant. The crystallinity, morphology, and chemical valence state of the synthesized CBO@NF were analyzed using XRD, SEM, and XPS, respectively. Moreover, effects of the preparation parameters, including the calcination temperature and calcination time as well as the loading dosage, were evaluated in detail. A degradation efficiency of 95.6% was achieved within 30 min with the optimal degradation system. The CBO@NF/PMS system shows great catalytic activity in a pH range from 3.0 to 11.0. The stability and reusability of the CBO@NF supported catalyst was evaluated through a recycling experiment. In addition, the possible degradation mechanism was also explored using a quenching experiment and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) detection. The result shows that both the surface-bound SO₄^- and OH play significant roles during the degradation process, where the electron transfer of Co²⁺/Co³⁺, Bi³⁺/Bi⁵⁺, and Ni²⁺/Ni³⁺ realizes the sustained regeneration of the active radicals. This work provides new insight for the practical applications of sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs) in wastewater treatment.

Assessment of Sulfate Radical-Based Advanced Oxidation Processes for Water and Wastewater Treatment: A Review

High oxidation potential as well as other advantages over other tertiary wastewater treatments have led in recent years to a focus on the development of advanced oxidation processes based on sulfate radicals (SR-AOPs). These radicals can be generated from peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and persulfate (PS) through various activation methods such as catalytic, radiation or thermal activation. This review manuscript aims to provide a state-of-the-art overview of the different methods for PS and PMS activaton, as well as the different applications of this technology in the field of water and wastewater treatment. Although its most widespread application is the elimination of micropollutants, its use for the disinfection of wastewater is gaining increasing interest. In addition, the possibility of combining this technology with ultrafiltration membranes to improve the water quality and lifespan of the membranes has also been discussed. Finally, a brief economic analysis of this technology has been undertaken and the different attempts made to implement it at full-scale have been summarized. As a result, this review tries to be useful for all those people working in that area.

Insights into the mechanism of persulfate activated by rice straw biochar for the degradation of aniline

This study investigated the degradation of aniline by persulfate (PS) activated with rice straw biochar (RSBC). The results demonstrate that aniline could be rapidly decomposed by a combination of PS and RSBC. The degradation efficiency of aniline was up to 94.1% within 80 min, and meanwhile 52% of the total organic carbon was removed. In the initial pH range of 3-9, aniline could be efficiently removed. Reactive species resulting in the rapid degradation of aniline were investigated via radical and hole quenching experiments with various scavengers (e.g., methanol, tert-butyl alcohol and EDTA) and electron paramagnetic resonance technique. Based on the analysis and observation made here, it is speculated that the predominant reactive species responsible for the degradation of aniline may be holes instead of SO₄^- and OH radicals. It is concluded that RSBC could be used as an effective catalyst to activate PS for the degradation of aniline.

Ultrasound enhanced activation of peroxydisulfate by activated carbon fiber for decolorization of azo dye

Activated carbon fiber (ACF) has become an emerging activator for peroxydisulfate (PDS) to generate sulfate radical (SO₄^•-). However, the relative low activation efficiency and poor contaminant mineralization limited its widespread application. Herein, ultrasound (US) was introduced to the ACF activated PDS system, and the synergistic effect of US and ACF in PDS activation and the enhancement of contaminant mineralization were investigated. The synergistic effect of US and ACF was observed in the PDS activation to decolorize orange G (OG). The decolorization efficiency increased with increasing ACF loading and US power, and PDS/OG ratio from 1 to 40. The activation energy was determined to be 24.065 kJ/mol. The radical-induced decolorization of OG took place on the surface of ACF, and both SO₄^•- and hydroxyl radical (^•OH) contributed to OG decolorization. The azo bond and naphthalene ring on OG were destructed to other aromatic intermediates and finally mineralized to CO₂ and H₂O. The introduction of US in the ACF/PDS system significantly enhanced the mineralization of OG. The combination of US and PDS was highly efficient to activate PDS to decolorize azo dyes. Moreover, the introduction of US remarkably improved the contaminant mineralization.

In situ synthesis of cobalt ferrites-embedded hollow N-doped carbon as an outstanding catalyst for elimination of organic pollutants

Using polydopamine-metal ions complex as precursor, hollow mesoporous N-doped carbon microspheres encapsulating spinel ferrites nanocrystals (HM-NC/CoFe₂O₄) were facilely prepared with the aim of creating a novel heterogeneous catalyst for sulfate radical-based oxidation of organic contaminants. The surface morphology, structure and composition of HM-NC/CoFe₂O₄ catalyst were thoroughly investigated. The applicability of the catalyst was systematically assessed through numerous controlled trials, several operating parameters, as well as different model pollutants by means of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation. Outstanding efficiency and excellent reusability were achieved due to the unique structure and composition of HM-NC/CoFe₂O₄. The HM-NC scaffold with high porosity and surface area not only stabilizes the CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles but also greatly facilitates the accessibility and adsorption of substrates to the active sites. In addition, both HM-NC and CoFe₂O₄ on the material surface can act as active sites. Sulfate radicals and hydroxyl radicals are identified as main active species and a possible enhancement mechanism of catalytic performance is also proposed. Due to the simple synthesis method, low-cost precursors, unique structure and excellent catalytic activity and stability, this novel composite have great potential as new strategic materials for remediation of water pollution.

Excellent performance of cobalt-impregnated activated carbon in peroxymonosulfate activation for acid orange 7 oxidation

Cobalt-impregnated activated carbon (GAC/Co) was used to produce sulfate radical (SO₄^·-) from peroxymonosulfate (PMS) in aqueous solution (hereafter called PMS activation). We evaluated its effectiveness by examining the degradation of orange acid 7 (AO7). GAC/Co exhibited high activity to activate PMS to degrade AO7. The degradation efficiency of AO7 increased with increasing dosage of GAC/Co or PMS and elevated temperatures. pH 8 was most favorable for the degradation of AO7 by GAC/Co-activated PMS. The radical quenching experiments indicated that the reactions most likely took place both in the bulk solution and on the surface of GAC/Co. We found that SO₄^·- played a dominant role in AO7 degradation. Sodium chloride (NaCl) which presents in most dye wastewater had a significant impact on AO7 degradation. Low dosages (<0.4 M) of NaCl showed a slight inhibitory effect, whereas high dosages (0.8 M) increased the reaction rate. HOCl was confirmed as the main contributor for accelerating AO7 degradation with high concentration of NaCl. In a continuous-flow reaction with an empty-bed contact time of 1.35 min, AO7 was not detected in the effluent for 0 to 18.72 L of treated influent volume (156 h) and 85% removal efficiency was still observed after 40.32 L of treated volume (336 h). Finally, the azo bond and the naphthalene structure in AO7 were destroyed and the degradation pathway was proposed.