Accurate evaluation on contribution of typical active species for degrading phenolic pollutants in peroxymonosulfate activation system

• Published in: Separation and purification technology 2025-02, Vol.354, p.128771, Article 128771
• Main Authors: Wang, Xinyu, Li, Tianren, Li, Mingyu, Zhao, Chunrui, Liu, Hongyu, Huo, Mingxin, Zhou, Dandan, Dong, Shuangshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Active species; Contribution rate; Correction coefficient; High-valent cobalt-oxo species; Photo-Fenton-like
• ISSN: 1383-5866
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2024.128771

[Display omitted] •Correction coefficients quantified relationship of active species and pollutants.•New method developed to accurately evaluate contribution of typical active species.•Degradation pathways by •OH, SO4•−, 1O2 and Co(IV) = O were distinguished.•The degradation pathway dominated by Co(IV) = O was found to be the least toxic. Radical and non-radical active species usually participate in photo-Fenton-like reactionfor water purification. Nevertheless, accurately evaluating the contribution of each active speciesis currently a challenge. Herein, a photo-Fenton-like system was constructed that generated typical active species by precisely modulating theoxygen vacancy of catalyst. We introduced correction coefficientsthat quantifythe relationship between specific active species and pollutants to the conventionalmethod. The correction coefficientsfor each active specieswere obtained through homogeneous experiments using bisphenol A (BPA) as the model phenolic pollutant. The prediction results for each active species from the modified method aligned with the scavenger tests, while the conventional method resulted a negative contribution rate (−71.0 %) for Co(IV) = O. Thereafter, the degradation pathway was effectively classified into three categories: hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and sulfate radicals (SO4•−), singlet oxygen (1O2), and high-valent cobalt-oxo species (Co(IV) = O). Co(IV) = O degradation pathway was identified as the least toxic.This finding provided a novel and plausible method for accurately evaluating the contribution of active species in peroxymonosulfate activation system.