Advanced oxidation processes of persulfate coupled with sequencing batch reactor activated sludge process (AOPs-SBR): Biodegradability and toxicity analysis of degradation intermediates

Abstract

Although carbon-based catalysts are of great significance for potential application in advanced oxidation processes of persulfate, the biotoxicity and biodegradability of degradation intermediates of organic pollutants have been rarely reported. Herein, carbon-based nanofiber materials are prepared by electrospinning energetic metal–organic framework (EMOF) and ferric acetylacetonate, where the puff up of the EMOF creates hierarchical porous structure during high-temperature pyrolysis and provides sufficient space to expose Fe/N active sites. When organic pollutant tetracycline (TTCH) as target contaminant, energetic MOF derived carbon/Fe nanofiber in 900C named ECFe-9, which exhibits larger specific surface area (546.8 m2/g) and higher reaction rate constant k value (0.186 min−1) than that of in 700, 800 and 1000 °C. The biotoxicity of degradation intermediates is investigated by toxicity simulation. The biodegradability is analyzed by using advanced oxidation coupled with sequencing batch reactor activated sludge process (AOPs-SBR). This study provides a new perspective for advanced oxidation processes of persulfate as pretreatment methods for aerobic biochemical degradation of persistent organic pollutants.