Large-Scale Synthesis of Iron Ore@Biomass Derived ESBC to Degrade Tetracycline Hydrochloride for Heterogeneous Persulfate Activation

Abstract

Iron-based catalysts are widely used in water treatment and environmental remediation due to their abundant content in nature and their ability to activate persulfate at room temperature. Here, eggshell biochar-loaded natural iron slag (IO@ESBC) was successfully synthesized to remove tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) by activated persulfate. The morphology, structure and chemical composition of IO@ESBC were systematically characterized. The IO@ESBC/PS process showed good performance for TCH removal. The decomposition rate constant (k) for IO@ESBC was 0.011 min−1 and the degradation rate was 3690 mmol/g/h in this system. With the increase of PS concentration and IO@ESBC content, the removal rate of TCH both increased. The IO@ESBC/PS process can effectively remove TCH at pH 3–9. There are different effects on TCH removal for the reason that the addition of water matrix species (humic acid, Cl−, HCO3−, NO3− and HPO42−). The IO@ESBC/PS system for degrading TCH was mainly controlled by both the free radical pathway (SO4•−, •OH and O2•−) and non-free radical pathway (1O2). The loading of ESBC slows down the agglomeration between iron particles, and more active sites are exposed. The removal rate of TCH was still above 75% after five cycles of IO@ESBC. This interesting investigation has provided a green route for synthesis of composite driving from waste resources, expanding its further application for environmental remediations.

Special Issue on “Advanced Catalytic Material for Water Treatment”

“…Wang et al investigated the treatment of coking wastewater via the α-MnO 2 /PMS process, and found that this catalytic treatment can significantly improve the biodegradability of wastewater [8]. Tian et al reported largescale synthesis of iron ore and biomass-derived biochar to activate the persulfate oxidation of tetracycline hydrochloride [9]. Additionally, Qi et al constructed a Bi 2 WO 6 /PMS system where carbamazepine could be efficiently degraded with the assistance of visible light irradiation [10].…”