Abstract
In this study, we investigated the ability of a magnetic wood biochar (WB)-based composite catalyst (Fe3O4–WB) to catalyze sodium persulfate (PS) for the remediation of estuary sediment contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The effects of various critical parameters, including the catalyst dose and initial pH, were investigated. The degradation of the PAHs was found to be related to the number of rings in their structure. The results showed that Fe3O4–WB is an efficient catalyst for the removal of high-ring PAHs (HPAHs), with the highest degradation rates for the 6-, 5-, and 4-ringed PAHs being 90%, 84%, and 87%, respectively, for a PS concentration of 2 × 10−5 M, catalyst concentration of 3.33 g/L, and pH of 3.0. That the reduction rate of the HPAHs was greater than that of the low-ring PAHs can be attributed to the strong affinity of the HPAHs for biochar derived from wood biomass. Overall, this study revealed that the WB-mediated electron transfer catalysis of the surface functional groups in a wide range of pH in the Fe3O4–WB/PS system and potentially application in the remediation of sediments contaminated with PAHs.
Highlights
Sediments may contain high concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which can have adverse effects on the environment [1,2]
The results revealed that biochar from sewage sludge rapidly immobilized the bioavailable fraction, with the effectiveness of reduction being higher in the case of soils with a lower affinity with respect to Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Based on the results described above, it can be concluded that wood biochar (WB) is a good conductor and that electrons from Fe3 O4 are conducted through the Fe3 O4 –WB composite to the PAHs such that the Fe2+ ions produced lead to the generation of
Summary
Sediments may contain high concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which can have adverse effects on the environment [1,2]. LPAHs have been shown to exhibit significantly less toxicity as compared to HPAHs, which are ubiquitously hazardous and carcinogenic to humans [3]. These compounds with two or more fused aromatic rings are highly stable with respect to industrial production and human activities and are the primary PAHs found in sediments. Owing to the adverse biological effects of PAHs in aquatic ecosystems, their efficient removal from water, sediments, and soil is imperative [4]
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