Biomass juncus derived carbon modified with Fe3O4 nanoparticles toward activating peroxymonosulfate for efficient degradation of tetracycline

Abstract

In this work, Fe3O4 nanoparticles anchored biomass juncus derived carbon (Fe3O4@JDC) was developed as a highly efficient heterogeneous peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activator to degrade organic pollutants. As-prepared catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer techniques. High loading and good dispersion of Fe3O4 nanoparticles on JDC lead to excellent degradation performance for tetracycline (90.2 %, 60 min) and other pollutants (above 80 %), and the reaction rate constant (k) is 3.73 times (0.0384 min−1) than that of pure JDC (0.0103 min−1) in the presence of PMS. Additionally, chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rate of Fe3O4@JDC/PMS system (64.7 %, 60 min) is best than other systems (JDC system, JDC/PMS system, etc.). The quenching tests and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) data further demonstrate that TC degradation is an integrative contribution of both non-radical (1O2) and free radical (O2−, SO4−, and OH) pathways. Furthermore, Fe3O4@JDC also exhibits superior reusability (81.1 % degradation efficiency after five cycles) and magnetic separation ability.