Although metal-rich biochar (M-BC) is widely used in
soil remediation
and pollution control, the activation mechanism of molecular oxygen
(O2) by M-BC still needs to be clarified due to the low
metal loading. In this study, we enhanced the manganese content of
low-temperature manganese-rich biochar (Mn-BC) by treating it with
hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), resulting in the formation
of MnBC-Hx (where x represents the
volume of H2O2 used in mL). MnBC-H5 was particularly
effective in activating O2, leading to the successful degradation
of phenol and dyes. Characterizations showed that the MnII in the outer layer of MnC2O4·2H2O nanoparticles evenly dispersed over Mn-BC was oxidized to MnIII by H2O2. This process was accompanied
by the removal of coordinated H2O, resulting in the formation
of MnIIIC2O4 on MnBC-H5. Under visible
light irradiation, MnIII can bind to O2 to form
MnIIIOOH species, which facilitates the transfer of charges
and generates superoxide radicals (·O2
–) that effectively degrade organics. Notably, MnIII of MnBC-H5 remains stable after the organic degradation
reaction. This study will not only provide a theoretical basis for
developing environmentally friendly biochar-based catalysts but also
promote the study of the environmental effects of biochar.