Rapid removal of organic pollutants by a novel persulfate/brochantite system: Mechanism and implication

• Published in: Journal of colloid and interface science 2021-03, Vol.585, p.400-407
• Main Authors: Dong, Wanyue, Cai, Tao, Liu, Yutang, Wang, Longlu, Chen, Hui, Zeng, Wengao, Li, Juan, Li, Wenlu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Brochantite; In situ chemical oxidation; Persulfates; Tetracycline hydrochloride
• ISSN: 0021-9797; 1095-7103
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.11.106

[Display omitted] Using natural minerals as persulfate activators can develop effective and economical in situ chemical oxidation technology for environmental remediation. Yet, few natural minerals can provide a high activation efficiency. Here, we demonstrate that brochantite (Cu4SO4(OH)6), a natural mineral, can be used as a persulfate activator for the rapid degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-H). Approximately 70% of TC-H was removed in Cu4SO4(OH)6/PDS within 5 min, which much higher than that of Cu3P (61.99%), CuO (29.75%), CNT (25.83%), Fe2O3, (14.48%) and MnO2 (9.76%). Experiments and theoretical calculations suggested that surface copper acts as active sites induce the production of free radicals. The synergistic effect of Cu/S promotes the cycle between Cu+/Cu2+. Sulfate radicals and hydroxyl radicals are the main reactive oxygen species that are responsible for the rapid removal of TC-H. The findings of this work show a novel persulfate/brochantite system and provide useful information for the environmental remediation.