Amino acid promoted oxidation of atrazine by Fe3O4/persulfate

Abstract

In the present study, we demonstrated that the presence of cysteine could remarkably enhance the degradation of atrazine by Fe3O4/persulfate system. The results of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra confirmed the combination of cysteine and Fe3O4 exhibited much higher activity on activation of persulfate to generate more SO4•- and •OH than Fe3O4 alone. At pH of 3.0, SO4•- and •OH contributed to about 58.2 % and 41.8 % of atrazine removal respectively, while •OH gradually dominated the oxidation of atrazine from neutral condition to alkaline condition. The co-existing Cl− and HCO3− could quench SO4•-, resulting in the inhibition of atrazine degradation. The presence of low natural organic matters (NOM) concentration (0–2 mg L−1) could enhance the atrazine removal, and high concentration (>5 mg L−1) of NOM restrained the atrazine degradation. During the Cysteine/Fe3O4/Persulfate process, cysteine served as a complexing reagent and reductant. Through acidolysis and complexation, Fe3O4 could release dissolved and surface bound Fe2+, both of which contributed to the activation of persulfate together. Meanwhile, cysteine was not rapidly consumed due to a regeneration process, which was beneficial for maintaining Fe2+/Fe3+ cycle and constantly accelerating the activation of persulfate for atrazine degradation. The reused Fe3O4 and cysteine in the Cysteine/Fe3O4/Persulfate process exhibited high stability for the atrazine degradation after three cycles. The degradation pathway of atrazine included alkylic-oxidation, dealkylation, dechlorination-hydroxylation processes. The present study indicates the novel Cysteine/Fe3O4/Persulfate process might be a high potential for treatment of organic polluted water.