Co@C core-shell nanostructures anchored on carbon cloth for activation of peroxymonosulfate to degrade tetracycline

Authors：Zhang, Quanzhi; Tian, Jun; Hu, Yi; Wu, Shaolin; Chen, Dezhi^*

Source：Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2023, 11(1): 109197.

DOI：10.1016/j.jece.2022.109197

• Advanced oxidation process
• Peroxymonosulfate
• Immobilized catalyst
• Carbon cloth
• Tetracycline

Cobalt-based heterogeneous nanocatalysts have attracted much attention in activating persulfate to rapidly eliminate organic pollutant in water. However, it remains a challenge to realize the easily recovery of these nanocatalysts and reduce the leaching of Co ions. Herein, Co@C core-shell nanostructures are anchored on the surface of carbon cloth (CC). The as-obtained immobilized catalyst of Co@C/CC exhibits an enhanced catalytic activity and lower leaching of Co ions in comparison with the bare Co@C nanocatalyt because of the high electrical conductivity and carrier effect of CC. The Co@C/CC demonstrates efficient catalytic performance in activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for tetracycline (TC) degradation. 99% of TC can be quickly degraded by the Co@C/CC/PMS system, and the system has good durability and interference resistance as well as wide pH adaptability from 3 to 10. Scavenger quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) shows that the non-free radical pathway (1O2) is dominate contribute to the TC degradation. Finally, density functional theory (DFT) calculations yield C--C as the primary attack site in TC, and the possible degradation pathways of TC are inferred. Importantly, the immobilized catalyst of Co@C/CC can achieve fast and simple collection and regeneration. This work provides new ideas for the preparation of efficient catalysts with easily recyclable for rapidly eliminate organic pollutant in water.

• Institution
  南昌航空大学; 北京航空航天大学