Single iron atoms embedded in MOF-derived nitrogen-doped carbon as an efficient heterogeneous electro-Fenton catalyst for degradation of carbamazepine over a wide pH

• Published in: Separation and purification technology 2022-12, Vol.302, p.122141, Article 122141
• Main Authors: Guo, Jieru, Song, Ge, Zheng, Yang, Gu, Jinyu, Li, Shuaishuai, Zhou, Minghua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbamazepine degradation; Heterogeneous electro-Fenton; Single atomic Fe catalyst; Wide pH applicability
• ISSN: 1383-5866; 1873-3794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.122141

[Display omitted] •Single-atom Fe embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon (Fe-N/C) was synthesized.•0.3Fe-N/C showed superior activity and stability in heterogeneous EF (Hetero-EF).•FeNx active sites play a key role in carbamazepine (CBZ) degradation.•0.3Fe-N/C showed broad pH applicability between 3∼11 with very low iron leaching.•OH and 1O2 were the dominant active species in the 0.3Fe-N/C/Hetero-EF process. Developing efficient, stable heterogeneous catalysts with wide adaptability to pH is of great significance for the degradation of organic pollutants by electro-Fenton (EF). In this work, a novel heterogeneous EF (Hetero-EF) catalyst, single atomic Fe sites embedded into N-doped porous carbon (Fe-N/C) was prepared using Fe-doped zeolitic imidazolate frameworks as a precursor. Single Fe atoms anchored on N/C were clearly observed by high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM). Due to the single-atom dispersion and the highest content of FeNx, the optimized 0.3Fe-N/C exhibited excellent catalytic activity for the removal of carbamazepine (CBZ) over a wide pH between 3∼11 with very low iron leaching (