Hollow Fe0/graphitized carbon nanocubes derived from the metal-organic framework for enhanced activation of peroxymonosulfate

Abstract

Water remediation has benefited greatly from advanced oxidation process (AOPs), which is essentially interlinked with the design and make-up of the catalyst structure. Here, we prepared novel hollow Fe0/graphitized carbon nanocubes (HFe0/GC) as an efficient catalyst for activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to degrade bisphenol A (BPA). A one-pot strategy was used to synthesize iron/zeolitic-imidazole-framework (Fe/ZIF-8) followed by tannic acid etching and then carbonization to get the HFe0/GC. For comparative analysis, a solid Fe0/graphitized carbon (SFe0/GC) catalyst was also prepared. Introducing tannic acid could maintain the structure of the catalyst at elevated temperatures. When the prepared catalyst (HFe0/GC) was introduced with the PMS to degrade BPA, a significant enhanced performance was achieved. The 98% BPA was removed in 8 min having reaction rate constant (k−1) of 0.74 min−1, which was 3.7 times higher than the compared solid structured (SFe0/GC) catalyst. The radicals quenching and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) test confirmed that both the radicals and non-radical were present in HFe0/GC/PMS system to degrade BPA. Moreover, the BPA degraded intermediates were also identified by gas chromatography mass-spectrometry (GC-MS). The doping and etching of metal–organic framework to get modified HFe0/GC may serve as an effective, non-toxic catalyst for AOPs.