Rhodamine B dye degradation using used face masks-derived carbon coupled with peroxymonosulfate

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2023-05, Vol.324, p.121386-121386, Article 121386
• Main Authors: Ramanathan, Subramaninan, Kasemchainan, Jitti, Chuang, Ho-Chiao, Sobral, Abílio J.F.N., Poompradub, Sirilux
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon; Carbon material; Degradation; Masks; Peroxides; Peroxymonosulfate; Plant and microbial; Rhodamine B; Used face masks
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121386

Catalytic carbon materials from used face masks (UFM) activated by peroxymonosulfate (PMS) were developed for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) dye in aqueous solution. The UFM-derived carbon (UFMC) catalyst had a relatively large surface area as well as active functional groups and promoted the generation of singlet 1O2 and radicals from PMS, giving a high RhB degradation performance (98.1% after 3 h) in the presence of 3 mM PMS. The UFMC could degrade only 13.7% at a minimal RhB dose of 10−5 M. The principal reactive oxygen species of sulphate (SO4•), hydroxyl radicals (•OH), and singlet 1O2 were discovered using electron paramagnetic resonance and radical scavenger studies. Finally, a toxicological plant and bacterial study was performed to demonstrate the potential non-toxicity of the degraded RhB water sample. [Display omitted] •Used face mask carbon (UFMC) was prepared by a simple direct carbonization process.•More active sites on UFMC catalyst encouraging ROS generation with PMS.•Nearly 98.1% of rhodamine B (RhB) degradation was achieved in the UFMC/PMS system.•The toxicity of the degraded RhB water sample was analyzed by toxicological study.