Convenient recycling and efficient photocatalytic degradation of disinfection by-products by in-situ growth MOF on PET

• Published in: Separation and purification technology 2023-11, Vol.324, p.124506, Article 124506
• Main Authors: Sun, Xu-Hui, Chen, Shu-Huan, Guo, Qiao-Zhen, Shen, Zheng-Chao, Wu, Jiang, Du, Zhen-Xia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Degradation mechanism; Disinfection by-products; Fe-MOF; Photo-Fenton catalysis; Toxicity assessment
• ISSN: 1383-5866; 1873-3794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2023.124506

[Display omitted] •Developed a newly, greenly, low-cost strategy to reuse waste PET plastics.•Fe-MOF was in situ growth on the surface of waste PET substrate by PDA-treated.•MOF composites show good catalytic ability to DBPs in the photo-Fenton system.•Intermediates were identified and potential degradation routes of DBPs were proposed. Drinking water disinfection processes have made remarkable contributions to keeping drinking water safe. However, these processes can lead to the formation of numerous harmful disinfection by-products (DBPs). Therefore, it is crucial to implement effective measures to minimize the production of DBPs. Herein, PET@PDA@NH2-MIL-53(Fe) (PNM) composite was successfully prepared via surface etching and solvothermal method. The material exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity for DBPs and their precursors at the photo-Fenton system formed by PNM and trace H2O2, which system achieved 99% degradation of 2,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone (2,6-DCBQ) in 30 min, and more than 98% and 95% degradation of phenol and bisphenol A (BPA) in 60 min. The PNM shows more than 90% degradation of DBPs even in real water. Based on free radical trapping experiments, a possible catalytic mechanism was proposed. ·OH and holes were the main active species in the catalytic process. Meanwhile, using UPLC-QTOF and GC–MS to identify intermediate degradation products and Toxtree software to assess toxicity. The PNM maintained a degradation rate over 95% after 5 cycles which demonstrates a remarkable recyclability. This study achieves the reuse of waste PET and opens a new way in exploring the development of eco-friendly photocatalytic materials.