Magnetic urchin‐like NiCo2O4 material derived from wastes as a peroxymonosulfate activator for the degradation of bisphenol A

Abstract

AbstractIn this study, the magnetic urchin‐like NiCo2O4 materials (NiCo2O4‐w) were successfully prepared from the waste during the preparation of NiCo2O4/carbon cloth composite, and further evaluated as a peroxymonosulfate activator for removing bisphenol A (BPA). The effect of various factors such as initial solution pH, peroxymonosulfate (PMS) concentration, catalyst concentration, and coexisting ions on the BPA removal were evaluated. The optimal factors were 0.20 g L−1 catalyst, 0.10 g L−1 PMS, 7.14 pH (unadjusted). Moreover, the NiCo2O4‐w exhibited good catalytic effects over wide ranges of pH (3.73 to 12). SO42− and H2PO4− remarkably inhibited the BPA removal, NO3− obviously inhibited the BPA removal, while Cl− and HCO3− had a little effect on the BPA removal. Singlet oxygen (1O2), superoxide radical (O2•−), hydroxyl radical (•OH) and sulfate radical (SO4•−) participated in the BPA degradation, of which O2•− and 1O2 played the leading role, especially O2•−. Oxygen vacancies, redox cycling pairs of Co(III)/Co(II) and Ni(III)/Ni(II) were responsible for PMS activation. Moreover, the degradation routes of BPA were rationally put forward. This present work not only presents that NiCo2O4‐w has a low‐cost, magnetically recoverable catalyst for high efficient degradation of wastewater containing BPA, but also opens up a new avenues to reduce environmental problems associated with waste treatment during the preparation of heterogeneous catalyst.