Highly efficient activation of peroxymonosulfate for rapid sulfadiazine degradation by Fe3O4 @Co3S4

• Published in: Separation and purification technology 2023-02, Vol.307, p.122755, Article 122755
• Main Authors: Wang, Tong, Lu, Jian, Lei, Juying, Zhou, Yi, Zhao, Hongying, Chen, Xinyu, Faysal Hossain, Md, Zhou, Yanbo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cobalt-based catalysts; Fenton-like reaction; Peroxymonosulfate; Sulfadiazine
• ISSN: 1383-5866
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.122755

[Display omitted] •The Fe3O4@Co3S4-X composite was successfully prepared for PMS activation.•Fe3O4@Co3S4 has excellent catalytic activity for sulfadiazine degradation.•The catalytic activity was not affected in the pH range of 3–10.•The mechanism and possible degradation pathways of SDZ were analyzed. Low Fe2+/Fe3+ cycling efficiency is the key factor limiting the efficiency of magnetic nanoparticles in advanced oxidation process. In this study, Co3S4 nanosheets were modified on the surface of Fe3O4 particles to design a series of efficient and stable Fe3O4@Co3S4-X catalysts. Within the wide pH range of 3.0 ∼ 10.0, Fe3O4@Co3S4-3/PMS system can degrade more than 95 % of sulfadiazine (SDZ) within 5 min, and its catalytic activity was significantly higher than Fe3O4/PMS and Co3S4/PMS. Except SDZ, Fe3O4@Co3S4-3/PMS system also efficiently degraded sulfonamides, chloroxylenol, bisphenol S, bisphenol A, 2,4-dichlorophenol within 5 min. Quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis confirmed that the main active species in the above system were SO·- 4and 1O2. Active Co(II) reduced Fe(III) on the surface of Fe3O4 to Fe(II), and the electron transfer between them promoted the Fe2+/Fe3+ cycle. Sulfur accelerated the cycle of Co3+/Co2+ and Fe2+/Fe3+, the synergistic effect between the two improved the catalytic activity and the decomposition efficiency of PMS. The unique core–shell structure of the composite effectively improves the catalytic activity and reduced the metal ions leaching. This study provides an effective strategy and theoretical support for the improvement and efficient utilization of magnetic nanoparticles, and reveals the degradation path of SDZ in the iron- and cobalt-based catalysts system.