Kinetics and mechanisms of the degradation of PPCPs by zero-valent iron (Fe°) activated peroxydisulfate (PDS) system in groundwater

Persulfate activation by nanoscale zero-valent iron supported by modified blast furnace slag for degradation of phenol wastewater

Nano-zero valent iron (nZVI) was anchored and dispersed on the surface of acid-modified blast furnace slag (mBFS) through the liquid phase reduction method. The synthesized nZVI@mBFS composite exhibited remarkable ability to degrade phenol when used in conjunction with persulfate (PDS), 97.8% phenol could be eliminated in 30 min. All the anions like SO42-, HCO3-, H2PO4-, and CO32- were detrimental to the phenol degradation in nZVI@mBFS system. Moreover, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis and radical scavenging tests confirmed that SO4•-, •OH and •O2- were the principal reactive oxygen species (ROSs) generated during the reaction process. The potential degradation pathways were also deduced based on the results obtained from gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) analysis. Collectively, this study holds substantial significance in regards to recycling industrial solid wastes, devising efficient persulfate-activated materials, and treating wastewater.

Electronic coupling of iron-cobalt in Prussian blue towards improved peroxydisulfate activation

Prussian blue analogs (PBAs) have attracted extensive attention in the field of aqueous organic degradation due to the tremendous potential for peroxydisulfate (PDS) activation. However, the relationship between the d-band center of the catalyst and the activation behavior of PDS remained largely unexplored. Herein, a series of Fe-Co PBAs-based catalysts with different Fe/Co ratios (Fe-Co PBAs-1 = 1: 0.52; Fe-Co PBAs-2 = 1: 1.21, and Fe-Co PBAs-3 = 1: 1.48) have been prepared by a facile hydrothermal procedure and subsequent acid treatment (Fe-Co PBAs-xH). The as-prepared Fe-Co PBAs-xH exhibited superior PDS activation performance and excellent recyclability in the degradation of methylene blue (MB). Density functional theory calculations revealed that the electron-occupied state of the Fe-Co PBAs was shifted to the Fermi level, indicating a strong interaction and easier electron transfer. Moreover, the d-band center of Fe-Co PBAs was upshifted relative to that of Fe PBAs, suggesting easier adsorption of MB and PDS, which was beneficial to enhancing catalytic activation and subsequent dissociation. Radicals such as •OH, 1O2, O2•-, and SO4•- were determined by the radical quenching experiment and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) testing in the Fe-Co PBAs-3H/PDS system, and the order of MB degradation by the free active radical is •OH > 1O2 > O2•- > SO4•-. The degradation pathway and potential ecotoxicity of MB and its intermediates were also studied. This work can provide new insights to construct the efficient catalysts for the activation of PDS and the degradation of organic pollutants.

Potential of metallurgical iron-containing solid waste-based catalysts as activator of persulfate for organic pollutants degradation

The production of solid wastes in the metallurgical industry has significant implications for land resources and environmental pollution. To address this issue, it is crucial to explore the potential of recycling these solid wastes to reduce land occupation while protecting the environment and promoting resource utilization. Steel slag, red mud, copper slag and steel picking waste liquor are examples of solid wastes generated during the metallurgical process that possess high iron content and Fe species, making them excellent catalysts for persulfate-based advanced oxidation processes (PS-AOPs). This review elucidates the catalytic mechanisms and pathways of Fe2+ and Fe0 in the activation PS. Additionally, it underscores the potential of metallurgical iron-containing solid waste (MISW) as a catalyst for PS activation, offering a viable strategy for its high-value utilization. Lastly, the article provides an outlook towards future challenges and prospects for MISW in PS activation for the degradation of organic pollutants.

Multi-level FeCo/N-doped carbon nanosheet for peroxymonosulfate oxidation and sterilization inactivation

Magnetic carbon-based catalysts with environmental friendliness have exhibited prominent effects on advanced oxidation processes. Herein, a multi-level FeCo/N-doped carbon nanosheet (FeCo/CNS) was synthesized by facile impregnation iron-cobalt salt onto cotton and followed by confined pyrolysis. We identified excellent advantages of the modified FeCo/CNS materials: (i) The convenience of the synthesis method and (ii) The dual effect of sterilization and contaminant degradation achieved through the FeCo/CNS-activated Peroxymonosulfate (PMS). The comparative experimental showed that FeCo/CNS could provide favorable catalytic performance, completely removing bisphenol A (BPA) and tetracycline (TC) within 5 min. Moreover, the potent sterilization properties against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were also verified. Analysis of the degradation pathway confirmed the existence of intermediates, and toxicological research demonstrated that the toxicity of the degradation intermediates of BPA gradually decreased over time. Our research provided an excellent application of FeCo/CNS in PMS oxidation and sterilization inactivation.

Insights into the potential applications of permanganate/peroxymonosulfate systems: enhancement via amorphous MnO2, effects of water matrices, and optimization using response surface methodology

In this study, we developed a novel self-catalytic oxidation system involving peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and permanganate (KMnO4), named as CUPP, to efficiently mineralize sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in groundwater. It was found that amorphous MnO2 derived from the in situ reduction of KMnO4 can directly adsorb HSO5-, a complex hydroxyl group, mediate the internal disproportionation reaction of HSO5- with the manganese complex, and effectively activate PMS, thereby promoting the oxidation of SMX and its degradation intermediates through sulfonate radiation. Furthermore, by using electron spin resonance (EPR), HPLC/MS full scan, and response surface methodology, the coexistence of HO˙, SO4-˙, O2-˙, 1O2, and active chlorine (Cl2, HOCl) in the CUPP system was confirmed. A total of 24 intermediate products were detected, and four possible degradation pathways were identified for SMX. In addition, it was found that the CUPP system has a strong impact resistance to pH variations, groundwater anions, and natural organic matter stress. Undoubtedly, the CUPP system presents an innovative approach for the degradation of various emerging organic pollutants in groundwater.

Unveiling the mechanisms of peracetic acid activation by iron-rich sludge biochar for sulfamethoxazole degradation with wide adaptability

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) based on peracetic acid (PAA) has been extensively concerned for the degradation of organic pollutants. In this study, metallic iron-modified sludge biochar (Fe-SBC) was employed to activate PAA for the removal of sulfamethoxazole (SMX). The characterization results indicated that FeO and Fe2O3 were successfully loaded on the surface of the sludge biochar (SBC). Fe-SBC/PAA system achieved 92% SMX removal after 30 min. The pseudo-first-order kinetic reaction constant of the Fe-SBC/PAA system was 7.34 × 10-2 min-1, which was 2.4 times higher than the SBC/PAA system. The degradation of SMX was enhanced with increasing the Fe-SBC dosage and PAA concentration. Apart from Cl-, NO3- and SO42- had a negligible influence on the degradation of SMX. Quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques identified the existence of reactive species, of which CH3C(O)OO•, 1O2, and O2•- were dominant reactive species in Fe-SBC/PAA system. The effect of different water matrices on the removal of SMX was investigated. The removal of SMX in tap water and lake water were 79% and 69%, respectively. Four possible pathways for the decay of SMX were presented according to the identification of oxidation products. In addition, following the ecological structure-activity relationship model (ECOSAR) procedure and the germination experiments with lettuce seeds to predict the toxicity of the intermediates. The acute and chronic ecotoxicity of SMX solution was dramatically diminished by processing with Fe-SBC/PAA system. In general, this study offered a prospective strategy for the degradation of organic pollutants.

Novel heterogeneous Fenton catalysts for promoting carbon iron electron transfer by one-step hydrothermal synthesization

Carbon materials play a crucial role in promoting the Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox cycle in heterogeneous Fenton reactions. However, the electron transfer efficiency between carbon and iron is typically low. In this study, we prepared a novel heterogeneous Fenton catalyst, humboldtine/hydrothermal carbon (Hum/HTC), using a one-step hydrothermal method and achieved about 100 % reduction in Fe(III) during synthesis. Moreover, the HTC continuously provided electrons to promote Fe(II) regeneration during the Fenton reaction. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and quenching experiments showed that Hum/HTC completely oxidized As(III) to As(V) via free radical and non-free radical pathways. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) and two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) analyses revealed that monodentate mononuclear (MM) and bidentate binuclear (BB) structures were the dominant bonding methods for As(V) immobilization. 40 %Hum/HTC exhibited a maximum As(III) adsorption capacity of 167 mg/g, which was higher than that of most reported adsorbents. This study provides a novel strategy for the efficient reduction of Fe(III) during catalyst synthesis and demonstrates that HTC can continuously accelerate Fe(II) regeneration in heterogeneous Fenton reactions.

Generation and engineering applications of sulfate radicals in environmental remediation

Sulfate radical (SO4•-)-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have become promising alternatives in environmental remediation due to the higher redox potential (2.6-3.1 V) and longer half-life period (30-40 μs) of sulfate radicals compared with many other radicals such as hydroxyl radicals (•OH). The generation and mechanisms of SO4•- and the applications of SO4•--AOPs have been examined extensively, while those using sulfite as activation precursor and their comparisons among various activation precursors have rarely reviewed comprehensively. In this article, the latest progresses in SO4•--AOPs were comprehensively reviewed and commented on. First of all, the generation of SO4•- was summarized via the two activation methods using various oxidant precursors, and the generation mechanisms were also presented, which provides a reference for guiding researchers to better select two precursors. Secondly, the reaction mechanisms of SO4•- were reviewed for organic pollutant degradation, and the reactivity was systematically compared between SO4•- and •OH. Thirdly, methods for SO4•- detection were reviewed which include quantitative and qualitative ones, over which current controversies were discussed. Fourthly, the applications of SO4•--AOPs in various environmental remediation were summarized, and the advantages, challenges, and prospects were also commented. At last, future research needs for SO4•--AOPs were also proposed consequently. This review could lead to better understanding and applications of SO4•--AOPs in environmental remediations.

A Theoretical Study on the Degradation Mechanism, Kinetics, and Ecotoxicity of Metronidazole (MNZ) in •OH- and SO4•--Assisted Advanced Oxidation Processes

Metronidazole (MNZ), a typical example of nitroimidazole antibiotics, is widely used in the treatment of infectious diseases caused by anaerobic bacteria. The degradation mechanism and kinetics of MNZ in the presence of HO• and SO4•- were studied using density functional theory (DFT). It was confirmed that both HO• and SO4•- easily added to the carbon atom bonded to the NO2 group in the MNZ molecule as the most feasible reaction channel. This study shows that subsequent reactions of the most important product (M-P) include the O2 addition, hydrogen abstraction and bond breakage mechanisms. The rate constants of HO• and SO4•--initiated MNZ in the aqueous phase were calculated in the temperature range of 278-318 K. The total rate constants of MNZ with HO• and SO4•- were determined to be 8.52 × 109 and 1.69 × 109 M-1s-1 at 298 K, which were consistent with experimental values of (3.54 ± 0.42) × 109 and (2.74 ± 0.13) × 109 M-1s-1, respectively. The toxicity of MNZ and its degradation products to aquatic organisms has been predicted. The results proposed that the toxicity of the initial degradation product (M-P) was higher than that of MNZ. However, further degradation products of MNZ induced by HO• were not harmful to three aquatic organisms (fish, daphnia, and green algae). This study provides a comprehensive theoretical basis for understanding the degradation behavior of MNZ.

Antidepressant pharmaceuticals in aquatic systems, individual-level ecotoxicological effects: growth, survival and behavior

The growing consumption of antidepressant pharmaceuticals has resulted in their widespread occurrence in the environment, particularly in waterways with a typical concentration range from ng L^-1 to μg L^-1. An increasing number of studies have confirmed the ecotoxic potency of antidepressants, not only at high concentrations but also at environmentally relevant levels. The present review covers literature from the last decade on the individual-level ecotoxicological effects of the most commonly used antidepressants, including their impact on behavior, growth, and survival. We focus on the relationship between antidepressants physico-chemical properties and dynamics in the environment. Furthermore, we discuss the advantages of considering behavioral changes as sensitive endpoints in ecotoxicology, as well as some current methodological shortcomings in the field, including low standardization, reproducibility and context-dependency.

Peroxymonosulfate activated by natural porphyrin derivatives for rapid degradation of organic pollutants via singlet oxygen and high-valent iron-oxo species

The activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) by sodium ferric chlorophyllin (SFC), a natural porphyrin derivative extracted from chlorophyll-rich substances, was systematically investigated for facile degradation of bisphenol A (BPA). SFC/PMS is capable of degrading 97.5% of BPA in the first 10 min with the initial BPA concentration of 20 mg/L and pH = 3, whereas conventional Fe²⁺/PMS could only remove 22.6% of BPA under identical conditions. It demonstrates a prominent flexibility to a broad pH range of 3-11 with complete pollutant degradation. A remarkable tolerance toward concomitant high concentration of inorganic anions (100 mM) was also observed, among which (bi)carbonates can even accelerate the degradation. The nonradical oxidation species, including high-valent iron-oxo porphyrin species and ¹O₂, are identified as dominant species. Particularly, the generation and participation of ¹O₂ in the reaction is evidenced by experimental and theoretical methods, which is vastly different from the previous study. The specific activation mechanism is unveiled by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations. The results shed light on effective PMS activation by iron (III) porphyrin and the proposed natural porphyrin derivative would be a promising candidate for efficient abatement of recalcitrant pollutants toward complicated aqueous media in wastewater treatment.

Organics abatement and recovery from wastewater by a polymerization-based electrochemically assisted persulfate process: Promotion effect of chloride ion and its mechanism

Ubiquitous chloride ion (Cl^-) in wastewaters usually inhibits the degradation of organic contaminants and generates numerous toxic chlorinated products in conventional degradation-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). Herein, a more Cl^- tolerant polymerization-based electrochemical AOP for organic contaminants abatement and simultaneous organic resource recovery was demonstrated with eight typical organic contaminants and two real industrial wastewaters for the first time. This process can significantly promote dissolved organic carbon (DOC) abatement in the presence of Cl^-, differing greatly from conventional degradation-based processes. Compared to sulfate radical (SO₄^•-) (or hydroxyl radical (HO^•)), dichloride radical (Cl₂^•-) derived from Cl^- has moderate reactivity towards most contaminants, which facilitates the organics polymerization as it ensures the formation of polymerizable organic radicals while inhibiting their excessive degradation. Thus, high DOC abatement (over 75 %) and high organic resource recovery ratio (48-79 % separable organic-polymer yield) can be achieved for most contaminants. Both soluble chlorinated compounds and solid chlorinated polymers are formed in the presence of Cl^-. The chlorinated products (e.g. chlorophenols) can be polymerized as new monomers, thus the concentration of dissolved organic chlorinated products is much lower than that in conventional degradation-based process. The tolerance of the present process to Cl^- is tested in real coking wastewaters, and exceeding 60 % of the abated chemical oxygen demand (COD) is obtained in the form of recoverable organic-polymers.

The multiple roles of phenols in the degradation of aniline contaminants by sulfate radicals: A combined study of DFT calculations and experiments

Recent research revealed inhibition or enhancement of dissolved organic matter (DOM) to the degradation of trace organic contaminants (TrOC) in natural and engineered water systems. Phenols containing acetyl, carboxyl, formyl, hydroxy, and methoxy groups were selected as the model DOM to quantitatively study their roles in the degradation of simple anilines, sulfonamide antibiotics, phenylurea pesticides by sulfate radicals (SO₄^•-). Experimental results found that p-methoxyphenol inhibited aniline and sulfamethoxazole degradation by thermally activated peroxydisulfate (TAP), while p-acetylphenol slightly promoted aniline degradation. Quantum chemical calculations were applied to study the microscopic mechanism and kinetics of phenols affecting the degradation of aniline pollutants (AN) in three ways: competitively reacting with SO₄^•-, repairing aniline cationic radicals (AN^•+) and phenylaminyl radicals (AN(-H)^•), and generating phenoxy radicals to degrade anilines. Generally, the degradation of sulfonamides and phenylureas prefer to be inhibited by hydroxy- and methoxy-phenols with low oxidation potential (E_ox), due to their diffusion-limiting reaction with SO₄^•- and rapid back-reduction AN^•+ with the calculated rate constants of (0.02 - 6.38) × 10⁹ M^-1 s^-1. Phenols repairing AN(-H)^• through H abstraction reaction is speculated to possibly dominate the joint degradation of phenols and anilines by TAP, which has a poor correlation with E_ox. This study provides mechanistic insight into the chemical behavior of complex and heterogeneous DOM in complex aqueous environments.

Regulating Interlayer Confinement FeOCl for Accelerating Polymerization of Pollutants to Reduce Carbon Emission in Water Purification

The spatial structure regulation of catalysts could optimize the reaction pathway and enhance the mass transfer kinetics, which might realize the efficient and low-consumption removal of pollutants in Fenton-like technology. In this study, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) intercalation was used to adjust the interlayer spacing of FeOCl from 7.90 to 11.84 Å by a simple and rapid intercalation method, thereby enhancing the mass transfer kinetics and altering the catalytic pathway. The removal rate of BPA in the DMF-FeOCl/PS system increased by 8.78 times, showing good resistance to complex water environments (such as pH, humic acid, and anions), especially in 5 g/L high-salt wastewater. The direct electron transfer processes between Fe(IV) and pollutants mediated by interlayer Fe sites generate phenoxy radicals, and the polymerization processes occur, achieving efficient removal of pollutants and low CO₂ emissions. This study provides new insight into the efficient and low-carbon treatment of high-salt wastewater.

Acid-washed zero-valent aluminum as a highly efficient persulfate activator for degradation of phenacetin

Phenacetin (PNT) is one of the most frequently detected nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the water ecosystems, which poses a potential risk to environmental aquatic organisms. Acid-washed zero-valent aluminum (ZVAl) as a highly efficient activator for persulfate (PS) process was investigated to degrade PNT from the aqueous solution. The results indicated that acid-washed pretreatment for ZVAl could efficiently increase the degradation efficiency of PNT in the PS treatment. The degradation efficiency of PNT (50 μM) was up to 90% in 4 hours with the addition of 0.2 g/L acid-washed ZVAl and 8 mM PS at pH 6.8 and 25 °C. The PNT degradation followed pseudo-first order kinetics in the present system. High activator dosage, PS concentration, and reaction temperature could enhance the PNT degradation. The presence of inorganic anions (i.e., NO₃^-, HCO₃^-) and humic acid (HA) showed inhibitory effects on the PNT degradation. The reuse results illustrated the acid-washed ZVAl material would have continuous and efficient activation performance for PS to degrade the PNT. Radical scavenger experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance indicated that both SO₄^•- and •OH were major reactive species during the PNT degradation. The possible degradation pathways of PNT mainly included the break of C-N and C-O bonds and further oxidation.

Catalytic activation of peroxydisulfate by secondary mineral derived self-modified iron-based composite for florfenicol degradation: Performance and mechanism

The advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) driven by iron-based materials are the highly efficient technology for refractory organic pollutants treatment. In this work, self-modified iron-based catalysts were prepared using secondary mineral as the precursor by one-step pyrolysis process without additional dopants. The prepared catalysts exhibited excellent performance in catalytic degradation of florfenicol (FF), especially C-AJ, which was derived from ammoniojarosite [(NH₄, H₃O)Fe₃(OH)₆(SO₄)₂], activated PDS to degrade 93% FF with initial concentration of 50 mg/L. Quenching tests and electron paramagnetic resonance (ESR) studies showed that SO₄^•-, ^•OH, and ^•O₂^- were the main reactive species for FF degradation and their contribution degree was SO₄^•- > ^•OH > •O₂^-. The Fe⁰ and the cycle of Fe(II)/Fe(III) both contributed to the PDS activation, and the reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II) was accelerated by S^2- on the catalyst surface. In addition, Fe₃O₄ on the C-AJ indirectly catalyzes PDS by promoting electron transfer. The effects of catalyst dosage, PDS concentration, pH, inorganic anions, and real aqueous matrices on FF degradation, TOC analysis, and cycling test were investigated. The results showed that iron-based catalysts have superior environmental durability due to their excellent catalytic properties in the real aqueous matrices with common inorganic anions and pH 3-9 and its steady catalytic capacity with multiple cycles. Overall, this study sheds new light on the rational design of self-modified iron-based composite and develops low-cost technology toward remediation of FF-contaminated wastewater.

Peroxydisulfate activation by nano zero-valent iron graphitized carbon materials for ciprofloxacin removal: Effects and mechanism

Since the discovery of the potential hazards of ciprofloxacin (CIP) to the ecosystem and human health, there has been an urgent need to develop effective technologies to solve the severe issue. In this work, the nanozero-valent iron graphitized carbon matrix (xFe@CS-T_m) were prepared via a hydrothermal method to activate peroxydisulfate (PDS) for degradation of CIP. Specifically, 0.5Fe@CS-T₇ exhibited the excellent catalytic performance for PDS activation to degrade CIP. Moreover, the catalyst exhibited vigorous interference resistance at various pH values, in the presence of various inorganic anions and under humic acid conditions. The characterization results demonstrated that Fe was successfully embedded on the carbon matrix and became the active sites to promote ROS production. It is demonstrated that O₂^•- was the main active species rather than •OH and SO₄^•-, based on quench trapping, EPR experiments and steady state concentrations calculations. The possible pathways of CIP degradation were proposed using LC-MS results and density functional theory. The outcomes of the toxicity estimation software tool found that the toxicity of CIP was reduced. This study not only investigated a novel methodology for the degradation of antibiotic wastewater but also provides a feasible pathway for carbon-neutral wastewater treatment.

Photo-assisted reductive cleavage and catalytic hydrolysis-mediated persulfate activation by mixed redox-couple-involved CuFeS2 for efficient trichloroethylene oxidation in groundwater

Persulfate (PS, S₂O₈^2-) activation through transition metal sulfides (TMS) has gained increasing attention since it can decompose a wide variety of refractory halogenated organic compounds in groundwater and wastewater. However, the processes of PS activation by TMS and particularly the formation of •OH radical under anoxic and acidic conditions (pH ∼2.8) remain elusive. Herein, by employing mixed redox-couple-involved chalcopyrite (CuFeS₂) (150 mg/L) nanoparticles for PS (3.0 mM) activation, 96% of trichloroethylene was degraded within 120 min at pH 6.8 under visible light irradiation. The combination of experimental studies and theoretical calculations suggested that the Cu(I)/Fe(III) mixed redox-couple in CuFeS₂ plays a crucial role to activate PS. Cu(I) acted as an electron donor to transfer electron to Fe(III), then Fe(III) served as an electron transfer bridge as well as a catalytic center to further donate this received electron to the O-O bond of PS, thus yielding SO₄^•- for trichloroethylene oxidation. Moreover, for the first time, •OH radicals were found to form from the catalytic hydrolysis of PS onto CuFeS₂ surface, where S₂O₈^2- anion was hydrolyzed to yield H₂O₂ and these ensuing H₂O₂ were further transformed into •OH radicals via photoelectron-assisted O-O bond cleavage step. Our findings offer valuable insights for understanding the mechanisms of PS activation by redox-couple- involved TMS, which could promote the design of effective activators toward PS decomposition for environmental remediation.

Effectively compound the heterojunction formed by flower-like Bi2S3 and g-C3N4 to enhance photocatalytic activity

In this study, the flower-shaped Bi₂S₃/g-C₃N₄-2.6 heterojunction obtained by solvothermal method and its photocatalytic degradation efficiency of rhodamine B (RhB) and tetracycline (TC) in aqueous solution within 40 min is as high as 98.8% and 94.6%. For RhB degradation, the photocatalytic reaction rate constant (k) of Bi₂S₃/g-C₃N₄-2.6 is approximately 1.8 and 45.5 times that of Bi₂S₃ and g-C₃N₄. For TC, k is 3.1 and 2.4 times that of Bi₂S₃ and g-C₃N₄, respectively. The key to determining the high catalytic activity of Bi₂S₃/g-C₃N₄ lies in the formation of a good heterojunction between Bi₂S₃ and g-C₃N₄, which accelerates the electron transfer rate between the heterojunction interface and effectively avoids electron-hole recombination. The effects of catalyst dosage, different pH values, inorganic anions, and capture agents on the photodegradation performance of RhB were investigated. The results show that the catalyst dosage is 1.33 g/L, and the solution pH is in the range of 5-9, which has the best removal effect on pollutants, and the isolation of holes (h⁺) with strong oxidizing ability promotes the collapse of pollutant molecules. Combined with electrochemical tests, a possible degradation mechanism was advised.

Prediction of Second-Order Rate Constants of Sulfate Radical with Aromatic Contaminants Using Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship Model

Predicting the second-order rate constants between aromatic contaminants and a sulfate radical (kSO4•−) is vital for the screening of pollutants resistant to sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation processes. In this study, a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model was developed to predict the values for aromatic contaminants. The relationship between logkSO4•− and three molecular descriptors (electron density, steric energy, and ratio between oxygen atoms and carbon atoms) was built through multiple linear regression. The goodness-of-fit, robustness, and predictive ability of the model were characterized statistically with indicators showing that the model was reliable and applicable. Electron density was found to be the most influential descriptor that contributed the most to logkSO4•−. All data points fell within the applicability domain, and no outliers existed in the training set. The comparison with other models indicates that the QSAR model performs well in elucidating the mechanism of the reaction between aromatic compounds and sulfate radicals.

Origins of Electron-Transfer Regime in Persulfate-Based Nonradical Oxidation Processes

Persulfate-based nonradical oxidation processes (PS-NOPs) are appealing in wastewater purification due to their high efficiency and selectivity for removing trace organic contaminants in complicated water matrices. In this review, we showcased the recent progresses of state-of-the-art strategies in the nonradical electron-transfer regimes in PS-NOPs, including design of metal and metal-free heterogeneous catalysts, in situ/operando characterization/analytical techniques, and insights into the origins of electron-transfer mechanisms. In a typical electron-transfer process (ETP), persulfate is activated by a catalyst to form surface activated complexes, which directly or indirectly interact with target pollutants to finalize the oxidation. We discussed different analytical techniques on the fundamentals and tactics for accurate analysis of ETP. Moreover, we demonstrated the challenges and proposed future research strategies for ETP-based systems, such as computation-enabled molecular-level investigations, rational design of catalysts, and real-scenario applications in the complicated water environment. Overall, this review dedicates to sharpening the understanding of ETP in PS-NOPs and presenting promising applications in remediation technology and green chemistry.

Preparation and performance of Novel Ni-doped Iron oxychloride with High singlet oxygen generation

Singlet oxygen with lower oxide electrode potential but higher selective oxidation ability towards specific organic contaminants had been paid great attention. An efficient system with high singlet oxygen generation (over...

Impact of chloride ions on activated persulfates based advanced oxidation process (AOPs): A mini review

Chloride ion (Cl^-) is ever-present in aquatic environments. Different Cl^- concentration have been reported in industrial water (760 mM), surface water (<21 mM), seawater (540 mM) and groundwater (<21 mM) which could potentially accumulate into large concentrations in the sea. This mini-review examines more than 200 studies and found that Cl^- ions can react with strong oxidants (SO₄^•-, ^•OH, and HSO₅^-) generated from persulfate activation, inducing the formation of chlorine radicals, that can either (1) directly react with organics or (2) generate chlorine radicals that can participate in the conversion of the organic substrate. Although the impact of chloride radicals have been identified as either negligible, positive, or negative (inhibitive) at different Cl^- concentrations, only a few studies have considered the possible generation of chlorinated by-products. Another essential detail that is often neglected is the mutagenicity and toxicity of these products, as only a few studies have reported on the biotoxicity, AOX (adsorbable organic halogen) and the degree of mineralization of Cl^- containing persulfate activated AOPs (Advanced Oxidation Process). Future studies need to consider the chemical analysis of the degradation products as well as the mutagenicity, toxicity and the biological effects pre and post-oxidation process. This evaluation will address several key issues including the properties, occurrence, and toxicity of the chlorinated products, which can significantly benefit its application in a large-scale environmental application.

The graceful art, significant function and wide application behavior of ultrasound research and understanding in carbamazepine (CBZ) enhanced removal and degradation by Fe0/PDS/US

Carbamazepine (CBZ) antibiotic organic contamination wastewater poses a huge threat to environmental safety. An advanced oxidation technology (Fe⁰/PDS/US) of using ultrasound (US) enhanced zero-valent iron/potassium persulfate (Fe⁰/PDS) can remove CBZ effectively. The optimal reaction conditions were determined by exploring the effect of single-factor experimental conditions such as ultrasonic power, ultrasonic frequency, CBZ concentration, solution pH, PDS dosage, and Fe⁰ dosage on the removal of CBZ. In addition, we also investigated into the effect of background ions (PO₄^3-, HCO₃^-, Cl^- and HA) on Fe⁰/PDS/US and analyzed the related results. The mechanism of CBZ removal in Fe⁰/PDS/US were explored by analyzing CBZ removal efficiency and reaction rates, the ion concentration of S₂O₈^2-, SO₄^2-, Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺, pH and the active radicals. The result indicates that US can improve the efficiency of activated PDS and expand the pH range of Fe⁰/PDS. It has prominent performance in catalytically degrading CBZ when the pH is 10.0. SO₄^•-, ^•OH and O₂^•- all coexist in the Fe⁰/PDS/US and make contribution to CBZ removal, whereas the SO₄^•- plays a key role. US can greatly promotes the degradation of target pollutant CBZ by speeding up the dissolution of the outer portion of iron powder, producing sufficient amount of Fe²⁺ with a continuous and stable way, and better activating S₂O₈^2- to generate sufficient SO₄^•- radicals. The degradation of CBZ may embrace three reaction processes, in which organic intermediate products with low molecular weight and biological toxicity is produced, boosting further mineralization and biodegradation of products. The Fe⁰/PDS/US is of great potential application value in removal of organic pollution and environmental purification.

Critical review of natural iron-based minerals used as heterogeneous catalysts in peroxide activation processes: Characteristics, applications and mechanisms

Recently, an increasing number of works have been reported about iron-based materials applied as catalysts in peroxide activation processes to degrade pollutants in water. Iron-based catalysts include synthetic and natural iron-based materials. However, some synthetic iron-based materials are difficult to scale up in the practical applications due to high cost and serious secondary environmental pollution. In contrast, natural iron-based minerals are more available and cheaper, and also hold a great promise in peroxide activation processes for pollutant degradation. In this review, we classify different natural iron-based materials into two categories: iron oxide minerals (e.g., magnetite, hematite, and goethite,), and iron sulfide minerals (e.g., pyrite and pyrrhotite,). Their overview applications in peroxide activation processes for pollutant degradation in wastewaters are systematically summarized for the first time. Moreover, the peroxide activation mechanisms induced by natural minerals, and the influences of reaction conditions in different systems are discussed. Finally, the application prospects and existing drawbacks of natural iron-based minerals in the peroxide activation processes for wastewater treatment are proposed. We believe this review can shed light on the application of natural iron-based minerals in peroxide activation processes and present better perspectives for future researches.

Preparation of Fe-MIL(100)-encapsulated magnetic g-C3N4 for adsorption of PPCPs from aqueous solution

In the present work, the Fe-MIL(100) was encapsulated on the outer surface of magnetic g-C₃N₄ through a simple method to synthesize a novel adsorbent. The as-prepared g-C₃N₄/MnFe₂O₄/Fe-MIL(100) was characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), BET specific surface area (BET), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and plasma emission spectrometry (PES). The g-C₃N₄/MnFe₂O₄/Fe-MIL(100) possessed rough surface, large surface area (303.68 m²/g), mesoporous structure and magnetic properties, which exhibited excellent adsorption performance for ciprofloxacin (CIP), oxytetracycline (OTC) and indomethacin (IDM) with the maximum adsorption capacities reaching up to 45.51, 64.34 and 103.91 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption processes of all three PPCPs could be described by different kinds of isotherms and kinetic models. Additionally, the adsorption capacity of the resulting adsorbent could maintain 73.43% of the first adsorption capacity even after ten cycles. Finally, the possible adsorption mechanisms of g-C₃N₄/MnFe₂O₄/Fe-MIL(100) for CIP/OTC/IDM were proposed. Thus, g-C₃N₄/MnFe₂O₄/Fe-MIL(100) possessed excellent features of high adsorption capacity, fast removal rate, easy synthesis, salt resistance and magnetic separation, which showed great potential application to be used as an effective adsorbent for adsorptive removal of PPCPs in wastewater.

Fenton-like chain reactions by coupling nanoscale tungsten powders and peroxydisulfate: Performance and mechanistic insights

In this study, Fenton-like chain reaction is constructed by coupling nanoscale tungsten powders (nW⁰) and peroxydisulfate (PDS). The nanoscale tungsten powders/peroxydisulfate (nW⁰/PDS) system exhibits a high oxidation efficiency toward diverse pollutants and expands the effective pH range up to 9.8. Results reveal ^•OH and sulfate radical (SO₄^•-) were confirmed to be responsible for 4,4'-ethylidenebisphenol (EBP) degradation, especially ^•OH. The corrosion process of nW⁰ results in the in-situ production of H₂O₂ and the transient-state tungsten species (W (x, x < VI)), initiating the reaction of H₂O₂ and tungsten species to generate ^•OH. PDS can accelerate nW⁰ corrosion to enhance the Fenton-like reaction, and can be activated by tungsten species (nW⁰ and W (x, x < VI)) to produce ^•OH and SO₄^•-. Integrated the analysis results of LC-QTOF-MS/MS, EBP degradation pathways were proposed. This study reveals the high oxidation efficiency over a wide pH range in the nW⁰/PDS system and provides new insight into the tungsten species induced Fenton-like reaction.

Modified nanoscale zero-valent iron in persulfate activation for organic pollution remediation: a review

Under the action of different activators, persulfate can produce sulfate radicals (SO₄·^-) with strong oxidizing ability, which can destruct many organic compounds. Meanwhile, persulfate is widely used in groundwater and soil remediation because of its fast reaction and wide application. With the high specific surface area and reactivity of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI), it can enhance the degradation efficiency of the persulfate system on organic pollutants in soil and water as a persulfate activator. However, nZVI is easy to get oxidized and has a tendency to aggregation. To solve these problems, a variety of nZVI modification methods have been put forward and put into to applications in the activation of persulfate. This article will give a systematic introduction of the background and problems of nZVI-activated persulfate in the remediation of organic pollution. In addition, the modification methods and mechanisms of nZVI are summarized, and the applications and progress of modified nZVI-activated persulfate are reviewed. The factors that affect the removal of organic compounds by the activation system are discussed as well. Worldwide, the field studies and full-scale remediation using modified nZVI in persulfate activation are yet limited. However, the already known cases reveal the good prospect of applying modified nZVI in persulfate activation to organic pollution remediation.

One-step synthesis of mixed valence FeOX nanoparticles supported on biomass activated carbon for degradation of bisphenol A by activating peroxydisulfate

A novel FeO_X nanoparticles supported biomass activated carbon (BAC/FeO_X) composite was prepared through one-pot calcination method with FeCl₃ and cherry stone powder as precursors. The carbonization of biomass, reduction of Fe³⁺, and FeO_X anchored on carbon substrate could be achieved at the same time. Characterization with transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscope indicated that nanoscale FeO_X distributed uniformly on carbon substrate, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and high resolution TEM characterization proved that the loaded FeO_X was high crystallinity of Fe₃O₄ and α-Fe⁰. Bisphenol A (BPA) was used to investigate the degradation performance of BAC/FeO_X activating peroxydisulfate (PDS). The ratio of raw materials affected degradation efficiency of BPA intensively through the content, valence state, and dispersibility of FeO_X nanoparticles, and the optimal material could degrade 20 mg/L BPA completely in 5 min at 0.1 g/L in the presence of 1 g/L PDS. Free radical determination and quenching experiments indicated that both SO₄^•- and •OH were involved in BPA degradation. The degradation pathway was proposed based on the identification of degradation intermediates. The facile synthesis method, high activation efficiency, and low-cost and environmental friendly raw materials made the BAC/FeO_X-50 an alternative catalyst for organic pollution water treatment.

Efficient removal of sulfamethoxazole by resin-supported zero-valent iron composites with tunable structure: Performance, mechanisms, and degradation pathways

Nanoscale zero-valent iron loaded polymer-based composites (D201-nZVI) are effective materials for the removal of inorganic contaminants from water. However, the removal efficiency of organic contaminants and the role of the distribution of nZVI in the performance of the composites still remains unclear. Herein, four resin-supported nZVI composites with different nZVI distributions (D1, D2, D3, and D4) were prepared and used for sulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradation. The four composites, D1-D4, demonstrated a high efficiency of SMX removal (99.02%, 94.61%, 89.00%, and 86.28%, respectively, at pH 5.0). In addition, the performance of D201-nZVI only dropped by approximately 10% after five cycles, indicating its strong potential for practical application. On the basis of kinetic and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectral analyses, this study showed that the formation of hydroxyl radicals (⋅OH) and superoxide radicals (⋅O₂^-) is the main mechanism of SMX degradation. Finally, based on six major degradation intermediates of SMX, five possible degradation pathways were proposed, including the coupling of N-centered radicals, demethylation, the isomerization of isoxazole rings, the oxidation of amino groups, and the S-N bond cleavage in the D201-nZVI system. These results are not only important for better understanding the role of Fe distribution in the removal of SMX but are also crucial for the potential application of D201-nZVI composites with a different Fe distribution in many other scenarios.

Polypyrrole-functionalized magnetic Bi2MoO6 nanocomposites as a fast, efficient and reusable adsorbent for removal of ketoprofen and indomethacin from aqueous solution

Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) as emerging organic pollutants have received widespread attention. A novel composite adsorbent was successfully prepared through the modification of polypyrrole (PPy) onto the surface of magnetic Bi₂MoO₆ (MnFe₂O₄/Bi₂MoO₆/PPy) and acted as excellent adsorbent to remove organic compounds from aqueous solution. The adsorbent was characterized by SEM, TEM, FT-IR, XRD, BET, VSM, XPS and PES. The resulting composites combined the advantages of all three parts and possessed porous structure and magnetic properties, which showed excellent adsorption performance for ketoprofen (KET) and indomethacin (IDM), as evidenced by 87.03% and 86.24% of removal in just 120 min at initial concentration of 10 mg/L, respectively. The adsorption processes of MnFe₂O₄/Bi₂MoO₆/PPy for PPCPs were well fitted with the pseudo-second order kinetic model and described better by Langmuir isotherm model. The possible adsorption mechanisms of KET and IDM by MnFe₂O₄/Bi₂MoO₆/PPy were provided. Additionally, the effect of other coexisting substances was also explored using Cu²⁺ as a model. Moreover, the adsorption performances were further studied to remove several dyes, in which showed superior affinity for anionic dyes. In practical application, it had almost equal removal capacity for KET both in the Yellow River water and sewage treatment plant inlet water.

New insights of metal free 2D graphitic carbon nitride for photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A

Polymeric oxygen rich exfoliated graphitic carbon nitride (exfoliated GCN, EGCN) was synthesized by the acid treatment of bulk GCN. The photocatalyst was characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and point of zero charge. EGCN shows high valance band hole transfer under short-time visible light (λ > 420 nm) exposure for photocatalytic mineralization of bisphenol A (BPA). Enhanced BPA removal was achieved by EGCN (99 %) due to formation of OH^● radicals (H₂O/h_VB⁺ →OH^●/H⁺). Major factors affecting BPA degradation including catalyst dose, wide pH range, and pollutant concentration were optimized. Repeated cycles of BPA degradation were performed with negligible rate decreased from 0.045 to 0.029 min^-1. The degradation profile and plausible reaction mechanism of BPA was established and well justified by the byproducts identified by mass analysis HR-ESI-MS. Therefore, the as-synthesized metal free EGCN, active under visible light, offers a new platform for complete mineralization of byproducts of halogenated organic contaminants.

Pre-accumulation and in-situ destruction of diclofenac by a photo-regenerable activated carbon fiber supported titanate nanotubes composite material: Intermediates, DFT calculation, and ecotoxicity

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) have been widely detected in ecosystems. However, effective water purification technologies for PPCPs degradation are lacking. In this work, an active activated carbon fiber supported titanate nanotubes (TNTs@ACF) composite was synthesized via one-step hydrothermal process, which was applied for adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of PPCPs under simulated solar light. Characterizations indicated that the successful grafting of TNTs onto ACF was achieved and surface modification occurred. Diclofenac (DCF, a model PPCPs) was rapidly adsorbed onto TNTs@ACF, and subsequently photodegraded (98.8 %) under solar light within 2 h. TNTs@ACF also performed well over a wide range of pH, and was resistant to humic acid. The good adsorption and photocatalytic activity of TNTs@ACF was attributed to the well-defined hybrid structure, enabling corporative adsorption of DCF by TNTs and ACF, and extending the light absorbance to visible region. Furthermore, the description of degradation pathway and evaluation of ecotoxicity for DCF and its intermediates/byproduct were proposed based on experimental analysis, density functional theory (DFT) calculation and quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis, respectively, indicating the photocatalytic degradation of DCF can offer the step-by-step de-toxicity. Our study is expected to offer new strategy as "pre-accumulation and in-situ destruction" for environmental application.

Theoretical investigation on the contribution of HO, SO4- and CO3- radicals to the degradation of phenacetin in water: Mechanisms, kinetics, and toxicity evaluation

Indirect oxidation induced by reactive free radicals, such as hydroxyl radical (HO), sulfate radical (SO₄^-) and carbonate radical (CO₃^-), plays an important or even crucial role in the degradation of micropollutants. Thus, the coadjutant degradation of phenacetin (PNT) by HO, SO₄^- and CO₃^-, as well as the synergistic effect of O₂ on HO and HO₂ were studied through mechanism, kinetics and toxicity evaluation. The results showed that the degradation of PNT was mainly caused by radical adduct formation (RAF) reaction (69% for Г, the same as below) and H atom transfer (HAT) reaction (31%) of HO. For the two inorganic anionic radicals, SO₄^- initiated PNT degradation by sequential radical addition-elimination (SRAE; 55%), HAT (28%) and single electron transfer (SET; 17%) reactions, while only by HAT reaction for CO₃^-. The total initial reaction rate constants of PNT by three radicals were in the order: SO₄^- > HO > CO₃^-. The kinetics of PNT degradation simulated by Kintecus program showed that UV/persulfate could degrade target compound more effectively than UV/H₂O₂ in ultrapure water. In the subsequent reaction of PNT with O₂, HO and HO₂, the formation of mono/di/tri-hydroxyl substitutions and unsaturated aldehydes/ketones/alcohols were confirmed. The results of toxicity assessment showed that the acute and chronic toxicity of most products to fish increased and to daphnia decreased, and acute toxicity to green algae decreased while chronic toxicity increased.

Synergistic coupling Co3Fe7 alloy and CoFe2O4 spinel for highly efficient removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol by activating peroxymonosulfate

Efficient wastewater restoration depends on the robustness and capability of the catalyst to promote sophisticated decontamination technologies. In this study, Co₃Fe₇-CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) prepared by facile pyrolysis were completely characterized and used to decompose 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP). Furthermore, the catalytic performance and relevant mechanisms involved in the activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) were also investigated. The optimal conditions were achieved at the catalyst loading of 0.05 g L^-1, PMS dosage of 1.26 g L^-1, and pH of 7.7 through the response surface methodology by using the Box-Behnken design model. Under optimal conditions, 97.1% efficiency of 2,4-DCP removal was obtained within 30 min. Moreover, the quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance result indicated that sulfate (SO₄^•-) and hydroxyl (HO^•) radicals were considered as the dominant reactive oxygen species, which resulted in the effective removal of 2,4-DCP in the Co₃Fe₇-CoFe₂O₄/PMS system. Moreover, Co₃Fe₇-CoFe₂O₄ showed efficient catalytic performance in continuous five runs and exhibited less metal leaching of 0.052 and 0.036 mg L^-1 for Co and Fe species, respectively. Furthermore, no considerable change was observed in the structural characteristics of the fresh and used Co₃Fe₇-CoFe₂O₄ catalytic system. The above-mentioned results indicated that the synergistic effects between Co₃Fe₇ alloy and CoFe₂O₄ spinel not only significantly improved the activity and long-term durability of the catalyst, but also accelerated the Co³⁺/Co²⁺ and Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ redox cycles. Overall, the Co₃Fe₇-CoFe₂O₄/PMS system provides a novel advanced oxidation approach to further develop multifunctional transition metal-based nanomaterials responsible for producing surface-bound radicals and enhancing the remediation of refractory pollutants in the environmental application.

New Insights into the Generation of Singlet Oxygen in the Metal-Free Peroxymonosulfate Activation Process: Important Role of Electron-Deficient Carbon Atoms

A nonradical oxidation process via metal-free peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation has recently attracted considerable attention for organic pollutant degradation; however, the origin of singlet oxygen (¹O₂) generation still remains controversial. In this study, nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets (NCN-900) derived from graphitic carbon nitride were developed for activation of PMS and elucidation of ¹O₂ production. With a large specific surface area (1218.7 m² g^-1) and high nitrogen content (14.5 at %), NCN-900 exhibits superior catalytic activity in PMS activation, as evidenced by complete degradation of bisphenol A within 2 min using 0.1 g L^-1 NCN-900 and 2 mM PMS. Moreover, the reaction rate constant fitted by pseudo-first-order kinetics for NCN-900 reaches an impressive value of 3.1 min^-1. Electron paramagnetic resonance measurements and quenching tests verified ¹O₂ as the primary reactive oxygen species in the NCN-900/PMS system. Based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis and theoretical calculations, an unexpected generation pathway of ¹O₂ involving PMS oxidation over the electron-deficient carbon atoms neighboring graphitic N in NCN-900 was unraveled. Besides, the NCN-900/PMS system is also applicable for remediation of actual industrial wastewater. This work highlights the important role of electron-deficient carbon atoms in ¹O₂ generation from PMS oxidation and furnishes theoretical support for further relevant studies.

Rate constants of sulfate radical anion reactions with organic molecules: A review

The rate constants of sulfate radical anion reaction (k_SO4-) with about 230 organic molecules of environmental interest are tabulated and discussed, together with both the methods of rate constant determinations and the reaction mechanisms. k_SO4-'s were collected from the original publications. The highest values in the ∼10⁹ M^-1 s^-1 range are published for aromatic molecules. There is a tendency that electron donating substituents increase and electron withdrawing substituents decrease these values. There are just a few compounds with rate constants established using different techniques in different laboratories. k_SO4-'s determined in different laboratories by the direct techniques, pulse radiolysis or laser flash photolysis, in most cases agree reasonably. The values determined by competitive experimental techniques, by complex kinetics calculations, or by modelling show a large scatter. Some of these techniques seem to be questionable for k_SO4- determination. The sulfate radical anion reacts with ketone and amine moieties of molecules by electron transfer. The same mechanism is also suggested for the reaction with aromatic rings. However, in a few cases addition to the double bond and sulfate anion elimination reactions were distinguished. A typical reaction with the aliphatic parts of the molecule is H-abstraction.