In this study, the
utilization of secondary pyrolysis oil-based
drilling cuttings ash (OBDCA-sp) to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS)
for pollutant removal was investigated. The chemical and physical
properties of OBDCA-sp were explicitly analyzed via multiple characterization.
The activation efficiency of OBDCA-sp for PMS was tested using humic
acid (HA) as the target pollutant. 92% of HA and 52% of total organic
carbon in solution could be removed using OBDCA-sp-activated PMS under
optimal conditions: OBDCA-sp dosage at 4 g/L, PMS concentration at
4 mmol/L, HA concentration at 10 mg/L, and pH value at 7. After four
cycles, 84% removal rate of HA could still be achieved using OBDCA-sp
to activate PMS. The main catalysis elements for PMS activation in
OBDCA were postulated to be Fe(III), Co(III), and Mn(III), based on
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction results. The
results of the quenching experiment indicated that SO
4
•–
,
•
OH, and
1
O
2
were the main
reactive oxygen species (ROS) and that
1
O
2
was
the dominant ROS in the HA removal process. Radical trapping experiments
indicated the presence of SO
4
•–
,
•
OH, and
1
O
2
in the reaction system. This study presented
a novel utilization path of OBDCA in the field of environmental remediation.