Phenol Degradation Efficiency Research Articles

Electrochemical selection of ferrous phosphide (FexP) as efficient catalyst for wastewater treatment: Performance and mechanism

Iron phosphide (FexP) has a great potential for electrochemical catalysis attributing to its outstanding electrical conductivity and activity. In the present study, a series of FexP (FeP, Fe2P and Fe3P) were carried out as catalysts for the oxidation of phenol from wastewater by the heterogeneous EF processes. Compared with FeP and Fe2P catalysts, Fe3P has shown significant two-electron oxygen reduction activity and H2O2 selectivity (90–100 %). The degradation efficiencies of phenol in Fe3P/EF (100 %) were higher than those in Fe2P/EF (91 %) and FeP/EF (67 %) upon 60-min electrochemical oxidation under pH 7. The Fe3P-CF/EF system could broaden the range of solution pH, as well the decay kinetics of phenol was enhanced by 1.5–2.4 times and the disposal cost was reduced by 33–41 % compared with FeP/EF and Fe2P/EF. Feɑ+ in Fe3P could promote the generation of •OH via accelerating Fe(II)/Fe(III) cycle and accelerating the transfer rate of electrons between Fe3P and H2O2. It was proved that •OH played a dominant role in removing phenol with the electron spin resonance (ESR) tests and trapping experiments. This work selected the most effective FexP catalyst in heterogeneous EF process and would bring new insights for organics removal from wastewater via H2O2 activation.

Enhanced heterogeneous Electro-Fenton catalysis using CNT/MoS2/FeCo-LDH cathode membranes for efficient phenol removal from wastewater

Herein, we innovatively crafted a novel CNT/MoS2/FeCo-LDH cathode membrane using a facile vacuum filtration method. Benefiting from the unique heterostructure between FeCo-LDH and MoS2, the prepared CNT/MoS2/FeCo-LDH cathode membranes catalyzed the production of high-concentration H2O2 (7.59 mg/L) at a low current density of 1.50 mA/cm2. The peak degradation efficiency of phenol (98.80%) was reached in only 60 min. Under optimized operating conditions, the phenol removal rate of the CNT/MoS2/FeCo-LDH cathode membrane remained above 80.00% within a wide pH range (3.0–9.0), demonstrating excellent adaptability. The synergistic incorporation of Mo, Fe, and Co ions facilitated additional chemical reaction pathways for Fenton-like reactions, thereby significantly enhancing hydrogen peroxide production. Notably, our approach exhibited moderate total organic carbon degradation efficiency, even for the actual pretreatment of coking wastewater, presenting a promising strategy for addressing recalcitrant industrial wastewater.

MXene-based composite aerogels with bifunctional ferrous ions for the efficient degradation of phenol from wastewater

Herein, MXene-based composite aerogel (MXene-Fe2+ aerogel) are constructed by a one-step freeze-drying method, using Ti3C2Tx MXene layers as substrate material and ferrous ion (Fe2+) as crosslinking agent. With the aid of the Fe2+ induced Fenton reaction, the synthesized aerogels are used as the particle electrodes to remove phenol from wastewater with three-dimensional electrode technology. Combined with the dual roles of Fe2+ and the highly conductive MXene, the obtained particle electrode possesses extremely effective phenol degradation. The effects of experiment parameters such as Fe2+ to MXene ratio, particle electrode dosage, applied voltage, and initial pH of solution on the removal of phenol are discussed. At pH = 2.5, phenol with 50 mg/L of initial concentration can be completely removed within 50 min at 10 V with the particle electrode dosage of 0.56 g/L. Finally, the mechanism of degradation is explored. This work provides an effective way for phenol degradation by MXene-based aerogel, which has great potential for the degradation of other organic pollutants in wastewater.

Using red mud to prepare the iron-bearing catalyst for the efficient degradation of phenol in the Fenton-like process

Phenol pollution is widely environmental and health problems that require new insights and urgent attention. A iron-bearing catalyst (FRM/2%A) was prepared with red mud by HCl dissolution, ascorbic acid reducing and precipitation of filter liquor, and activated H2O2 to degrade the phenol in synthetic wastewater. Results show that FRM/2%A had the highest degradation efficiency (99.3 %) in the reaction time of 5 min among investigative samples, due to the production of ferrous polymetallic oxides on the catalyst and the formation of mesoscopic particles and microcellular structures. The optimal conditions were 1 g/L of catalyst dosage, 5 mM of H2O2 concentration, 3–6 of initial pH and 100 mg/L of initial concentration of phenol in the FRM/2%A/H2O2 system. The degradation data fit into the pseudo-first-order kinetics model and the reaction rate constant (k) of FRM/2%A was 0.865 min−1. The removal efficiency (77 %) of COD below the value (99.3 %) of phenol degradation implied the intermediates generating during the phenol degradation. The possible degradation pathway was proposed as phenol → catechol → benzoquinone → muconic acid → small molecular organic acids → CO2 and H2O. The findings suggested a new way for the synthesis of the efficient catalyst with RM and optimal operating strategies for the treatment of phenol wastewater.

A new strategy for improving the energy efficiency of electro-Fenton: Using N-doped activated carbon cathode with strong Fe(III) adsorption capacity to promote Fe(II) regeneration

Fe(II) regeneration plays a crucial role in the electro-Fenton process, significantly influencing the rate of ·OH formation. In this study, a method is proposed to improve Fe(II) regeneration through N-doping aimed at enhancing the adsorption capacity of the activated carbon cathode for Fe(III). N-doping not only enriched the pore structure on the surface of activated carbon, providing numerous adsorption sites, but also significantly increased the adsorption energy for Fe(III). Among the types of nitrogen introduced, pyridine-N exhibited the most substantial enhancement effect, followed by pyrrole-N, while graphite-N showed a certain degree of inhibition. Furthermore, N-doping facilitated the adsorption of all forms of Fe(III) by activated carbon. The adsorption and electrosorption rates of the NAC-900 electrode for Fe(III) were 30.33% and 42.36%, respectively. Such modification markedly enhanced the Fe3+/Fe2+ cycle within the electro-Fenton system. The NAC-900 system demonstrated an impressive phenol degradation efficiency of 93.67%, alongside the lowest electricity consumption attributed to the effective “adsorption-reduction" synergy for Fe(III) on the NAC-900 electrode. Compared to the AC cathode electro-Fenton system, the degradation efficiency of the NAC-900 cathode electro-Fenton system at pH = levels ranging from 3 to 5 exceeded 90%; thus, extending the pH applicability of the electro-Fenton process. The degradation efficiency of phenol using the NAC-900 cathode electro-Fenton system in various water matrices approached 90%, indicating robust performance in real wastewater treatment scenarios. This research elucidates the impact of cathodic Fe(III) adsorption on Fe(II) regeneration within the electro-Fenton system, and clarifies the influence of different N- doping types on the cathodic adsorption of Fe(III).

Bi4O7 modified AgBiO3 to construct Z-scheme heterojunction for photocatalytic removing phenol

The Z-scheme heterojunction Bi4O7/AgBiO3 photocatalysts were synthesized by hydrothermal method. It exhibited excellent photocatalytic degradation efficiency (74.87%) for phenol, which is 2.6 and 4.5 times more efficient than pure AgBiO3 and Bi4O7, respectively. The improvement of photocatalytic performance can be ascribed the enhanced photo-induced charge separation efficiency of the Z-scheme heterostructure through various characterization analysis and experiment tests. In addition, the effective degradation of other organic pollutants like bisphenol A, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin of Bi4O7/AgBiO3 was also confirmed. This study provides a reference for designing photocatalysts that can degrade organic pollutants efficiently.

Oxygen vacancy-promoter on flotation residue carbon from coal gasification fine slag for the catalytic degradation of phenol

To enable the high-value application of coal gasification slag, flotation residual carbon from coal gasification fine slag (FSC) was used as a catalyst to remove organic contaminants. In this study, residual carbon was washed and sieved to prepare a stable carbon-based catalyst, which was used to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for phenol degradation. The findings demonstrated that 50 mg/L of phenol could be removed by the FSC in 30 minutes within 30 °C, pH 3.01–11.00, 1 mmol/L PMS, and 0.6 g/L catalyst dosage. The efficiency of phenol degradation was attributed to the abundant active sites, such as oxygen vacancies in FSC. The characterization results demonstrated that oxygen vacancies, as a defective structure, could promote the adsorption of PMS on the FSC surface, then forming various active species, such as ·O2- and 1O2. Moreover, the presence of oxygen vacancies could redistribute the charge on the FSC surface, thus improving the adsorption and degradation of phenol. Overall, the study confirmed the activation potential of the flotation residual carbon from coal gasification fine slag and provided a theoretical foundation for its application in the catalytic removal of organic pollutants.

A Co-doped Ag3PO4 photocatalyst: Efficient degradation of organic pollutants and enhancement mechanism

In this study, an efficient Co-doped Ag3PO4 photocatalyst was prepared by the deposition method. Compared with Ag3PO4, the degradation efficiency of the optimal sample CAP-2 (the mole ratio of Co/Ag was 0.057 %) for MO (20 mgL−1) increased from 53.4 % to 95.0 % within 20 min, and the degradation efficiency for phenol (20 mgL−1) increased from 57.9 % to 91.8 % within 80 min. Moreover, the CAP-2 sample performed excellent mineralization ability and stable recycling capacity. Free radical capture experiments and electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements indicated that holes (h+) and superoxide radicals (⋅O2−) were the main active radicals. Doping Co ions broadened the optical absorption, introduced impurity level to promote the separation of carriers, and generated additional ⋅O2− owing to the mutual conversion of Co3+ and Co2+, thus considerably improving Ag3PO4 photocatalytic performance. This work provides a new reference for doping metal ions modified semiconductor photocatalysts to efficiently degrade organic pollutants.

Efficient degradation of phenol in water by ball-milling modulated nitrogen-doped structured biochar

Presently, most kinds of biochar rely on the addition of transition metals to improve their electron transport capacity, thereby boosting the activation of oxidants. However, challenges such as the precipitation of transition metals and the chemical inertness of biochar are commonly encountered. Biochar with nitrogen-containing functional groups has emerged as a promising solution as oxidant activators. The nitrogen doping of biochar through ball milling is a straightforward, cost-effective, and efficient preparation method. To optimize the activation properties, a multi-step process involving roasting, ball milling, and tempering was employed to produce biochar. Sesame dregs was chosen as the precursor for this biochar. By optimizing the roasting temperature to 900 °C and using urea as the nitrogen source, biochar derived from sesame residue was successfully prepared. This biochar featured pyridine nitrogen as the primary functional group, exhibiting improved crystallinity and aromaticity. The activation of sodium persulfate (3.0 mM) with biochar eliminated phenol from wastewater with an initial concentration of 50 mg/L in just 15 minutes, achieving a remarkable mineralization rate of 96.77%. Even after undergoing six cycles of repeated use, the system consistently removed 97.73% of phenol within the same timeframe, maintaining a high mineralization rate of 86.77%. Notably, it was found that N-CN, N-6, and N-q were instrumental in stimulating reactive oxygen species (ROS), while ·OH, SO4·-, and 1O2 served as the primary ROS responsible for degrading phenol. The research also revealed a linear relationship between active oxygen sites and oxidized substances, offering insights into the mechanism of phenol degradation.

Bismuth oxyhalide as efficient photocatalyst for water, air treatment and bacteria inactivation under UV and visible light

Fifteen bismuth oxyhalides were synthetized, including BiOX, BiOX/BixOyXz, heterostructures and BiOXxY1−x (X, Y = Cl, Br, I) solid solutions. The photocatalytic activity and intermediates formation of as-prepared bismuth-based semiconductors (BBS) were compared with the benchmark TiO2 P25 photocatalyst for NOx air purification, phenol decomposition, and E.Coli bacteria inactivation. TiO2 P25 possessed the highest photocatalytic oxidation rate of phenol (K = 0.003 min−1) and NO degradation efficiency (η = 38 %) when exposed to UV light, but also the lowest performance under visible light on both photocatalytic process (K = 0.0007 min−1 and η = 14 %). Under visible light, BiOI/Bi4O5I2 or solid solutions (BiOI0.5Cl0.5 and BiOI0.5Br0.5) enhanced the photocatalyic for phenol degradation (K = 0.01–0.026 min−1) and NO (35–37 %). BBS samples generated more NO2 during NOx oxidation, but less typical intermediates (benzoquinone, hydroquinone and catechol) during phenol decomposition were detected. BiOCl0.5I0.5 and BiOBr0.5I0.5 composites exhibited the most outstanding antibacterial performance under both irradiation conditions resulting in E. coli 102-3 cfu/mL after 60 min irradiation. The differences can be mainly linked to a different ROS-mediated mechanism of TiO2 and BBS. The BBS photocatalytic results is closely related to the balance between effective light absorption and adequate redox potentials.

Iron-bearing mining reject as an alternative and effective catalyst for photo-Fenton oxidation of phenol in water.

In this work, iron-bearing mining reject was employed as an alternative and potential low-cost catalyst to degrade phenol in water by photo-Fenton strategy. Various techniques, including SEM-EDS, BET, FTIR, and XRD, were applied to evaluate the material's properties. Process parameters such as hydrogen peroxide concentration, catalyst dosage, and pH were studied to determine the optimum reaction conditions ([catalyst] = 0.75g L-1, [H2O2] = 7.5mM, and pH = 3). Phenol degradation and mineralization efficiencies at 180 and 300min were 96.5 and 78%, respectively. These satisfactory results can be associated with the iron amount present in the waste sample. Furthermore, the material showed high catalytic activity and negligible iron leaching even after the fourth reuse cycle. The degradation behavior of phenol in water was well represented by a kinetic model based on the Fermi function. The iron-bearing mining reject can be considered a potential photo-Fenton catalyst for phenol degradation in wastewater.

α-Fe2O3 nanosheets as Electro-Fenton catalyst for highly efficient phenol degradation

A two-dimensional material, α-Fe2O3 nanosheets, was prepared and used as heterogeneous Electro-Fenton catalysts in phenol degradation. The morphology and electrochemical characterization of the catalysts were carried out. Morphological and structural analysis showed that the prepared product was a hexagonal α-Fe2O3 nanosheet with, a thickness of about 10 nm, and a width of 200 nm. Electrochemical tests show that the catalysts have good catalytic performance. The electrochemical test results of α-Fe2O3 with different morphologies show that the two-dimensional nanosheet morphology improves the catalytic performance of α-Fe2O3. The effects of different factors (current density, aeration rate, pH, catalyst dosage, and electrolyte concentration) were discussed. Free radical quenching experiments demonstrated that OH and SO4− are the main active species. Furthermore, the catalyst was recycled 7 times, and the phenol removal rate did not decrease significantly.

Phenol degradation and Sb(V) adsorption by superparamagnetic CTAB-modified iron calcium composite

The heavy metal ions and organic dyes in textile wastewater treatment pose a significant environmental burden and are challenging to effectively manage. A magnetic cationic surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), modified iron-calcium composite (referred to as CIC), was prepared using a straightforward method from iron-calcium composites as raw materials. The simultaneous catalytic degradation and adsorption efficiency of phenol and Sb(V) from textile wastewater were evaluated using this material. The results indicate that under conditions of pH 5.0 and a duration of 180 min, both phenol and Sb(V) removal rates exceed 90%. Characterization and experimental findings reveal that CIC possesses magnetic properties, facilitating easy separation, and offers a large surface area, ensuring abundant adsorption sites and stability. Additionally, CIC can assist in the enhanced degradation of phenol by H2O2. Pseudo-second-order kinetics describe the adsorption of Sb(V) by CIC, while oxidative kinetics explain the degradation of phenol. The primary removal mechanisms involve the oxidation and degradation of phenol through the generation of hydroxyl radicals by H2O2 and the formation of Fe-O-Sb complexes between Sb(V) and the iron sites on CIC, as well as the precipitation of Ca-O-Sb compounds between Sb(V) and the calcium sites on CIC. Therefore, the synergistic effect of CIC and H2O2 offers an efficient and environmentally friendly method for the simultaneous removal of Sb(V) and phenol in coupled wastewater, presenting broad prospects for application in wastewater treatment.

Degradation of aqueous phenol by combined ultraviolet and electrochemical oxidation treatment

The industrial wastewater containing phenol is characterized by its elevated toxicity, resistance to biodegradation, and pronounced bioaccumulation. Traditional treatment methods frequently fall short in effectively removing phenol. In this study, a UV photoelectrochemical synergistic catalytic oxidation process was employed for the efficient elimination of phenol. The investigation systematically assessed the impact of various factors, including electrolyte type, concentration, current density, and initial pH, on phenol degradation. Furthermore, the degradation products were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results indicate that the oxidation and degradation of phenol in the UV photoelectrochemical synergistic catalytic system adhere to a first-order kinetic equation. Moreover, the combined UV and electrochemical catalytic degradation process demonstrated a synergistic effect, significantly enhancing the efficiency of phenol degradation. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of UV combined electrochemical catalytic degradation of phenol and provide reasonable speculation on the degradation pathway of phenol under UV electrochemical co-catalytic oxidation.

Synthesis of stabilized zero-valent iron particles and role investigation of humic acid-Fex+ shell in Fenton-like reactions and surface stability control

Herein, a novel humic acid-Fex+ complex-coated ZVI (HA-Fex+@ZVI) was synthesized and used to activate peroxydisulfate (PDS) for phenol degradation. The HA-Fex+ shell selectively reacted with PDS rather than O2, leading to the formation of modified ZVI with excellent surface stability in storage and ultraefficient PDS activation in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). As a result, the phenol degradation and PDS activation efficiencies of HA-Fex+@ZVI/PDS were ∼14.4 and ∼1.8 times higher than those of ZVI/PDS, respectively. Mechanistic explorations revealed that the replacement of the HA-Fex+ shell relative to the original passivation layer of ZVI greatly changed the SO4•- generation pathway from a heterogeneous process to a homogeneous process, resulting from the slow exposure of Fe0 (generating dissolved Fe2+) and the depolymerized HA (enhancing the Fe3+/Fe2+ cycle). Based on experimental analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the Fe3+ in HA-Fex+ could be reduced to Fe2+ by PDS, resulting in the disintegration of the HA-Fex+ shell and exposure of Fe0 core active sites. Furthermore, compared to similar catalysts synthesized with commercial HA and traditional chemicals, HA-Fex+@ZVI synthesized with multiple waste biomasses exhibited better performance. This research provides valuable insights for designing ZVI-based catalysts with excellent storage stability and ultraefficient PDS catalytic activity for AOPs.

Water hyacinth derived hierarchical porous biochar absorbent: Ideal peroxydisulfate activator for efficient phenol degradation via an electron-transfer pathway

In this paper, a facile hydrothermal pretreatment and molten salt activation route was presented for preparing a self-doped porous biochar (HMBC) from a nitrogenous biomass precursor of water hyacinth. With an ultrahigh specific surface area (2240 m2 g−1), well-developed hierarchical porous structure, created internal structural defects and doped surface functionalities, HMBC exhibited an excellent adsorption performance and catalytic activity for phenol removal via peroxydisulfate (PDS) activation. Specifically, the porous structure promoted the adsorption of PDS on HMBC, forming a highly active HMBC/PDS* complex and thereby increasing the oxidation potential of the system. Meanwhile, the carbon defective structure, graphitic N and CO groups enhanced the electron transfer process, favoring the HMBC/PDS system to catalyze phenol oxidation via an electron transfer dominated pathway. Thus, the system degraded phenol effectively with an ultralow activation energy of 4.9 kJ mol−1 and a remarkable oxidant utilization efficiency of 8.2 mol mol-oxidant−1 h−1 g−1. More importantly, the system exhibited excellent resistance to water quality and good adaptability for decontaminating different organic pollutants with satisfactory mineralization efficiency. This study offers valuable insights into the rational designing of a low-cost biochar catalyst for efficient PDS activation towards organic wastewater remediation.

Comparative Genomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of Phenol Degradation and Tolerance in Acinetobacter lwoffii through Adaptive Evolution.

Microorganism-based methods have been widely applied for the treatment of phenol-polluted environments. The previously isolated Acinetobacter lwoffii NL1 strain could completely degrade 0.5 g/L phenol within 12 h, but not higher concentrations of phenol. In this study, we developed an evolutionary strain NL115, through adaptive laboratory evolution, which possessed improved degradation ability and was able to degrade 1.5 g/L phenol within 12 h. Compared with that of the starting strain NL1, the concentration of degradable phenol by the developed strain increased three-fold; its phenol tolerance was also enhanced. Furthermore, comparative genomics showed that sense mutations mainly occurred in genes encoding alkyl hydroperoxide reductase, phenol hydroxylase, 30S ribosomal protein, and mercury resistance operon. Comparative transcriptomics between A. lwoffii NL115 and NL1 revealed the enrichment of direct degradation, stress resistance, and vital activity processes among the metabolic responses of A. lwoffii adapted to phenol stress. Among these, all the upregulated genes (log2fold-change > 5) encoded peroxidases. A phenotypic comparison of A. lwoffii NL1 and NL115 found that the adapted strain NL115 exhibited strengthened antioxidant capacity. Furthermore, the increased enzymatic activities of phenol hydroxylase and alkyl hydroperoxide reductase in A. lwoffii NL115 validated their response to phenol. Overall, this study provides insight into the mechanism of efficient phenol degradation through adaptive microbial evolution and can help to drive improvements in phenol bioremediation.

Role of inorganic anions in improving the oxidizing capacity of heat-activated peroxymonosulfate: Identification of primary degradative pathways

This study demonstrated a drastic improvement in the oxidizing capacity of heat-activated peroxymonosulfate (heat/PMS) upon the addition of bicarbonate (HCO3) and phosphate (PO4). Injecting the anions caused a 20- to 30-fold increase in the phenol degradation efficiency of heat/PMS at the temperature range of 40–50 ℃ that was insufficient to thermally activate peroxydisulfate (PDS). The heat/PMS-PO4 outperformed heat/PDS in degrading benzoic acid, whereas heat/PMS-HCO3 marginally decomposed it. The reactivity of heat/PMS-PO4 did not vary sensitively depending on substrate type, which resulted from the increased yield of sulfate radical due to facile thermal cleavage of the peroxide bond loosened in the PMS-PO4 complex, based on the electron paramagnetic spectral features and quenching effects of radical scavengers. Degradation of phenols and furfuryl alcohol by heat/PMS-anion was highly accelerated under alkaline conditions through heat-promoted direct PMS oxidation and singlet oxygenation. Along with the similarity between the heat/PMS-anion systems in intermediate distribution (distinguished from that of heat/PDS) and chronoamperometric current response of the heated PMS solution upon the subsequent injection of anion and phenol, the extent of PMS consumption in the heated PMS-anion or PMS-organic-anion mixtures, which depended on substrate type and temperature, implied the role of heat-activated PMS-anion complexes as the non-radical oxidants.

Preparation of a Novel Ag/CFOOVs Composite Catalyst and Efficient Degradation of Phenol in a H2O2-based Fenton-like System

Although CuFe2O4 has been widely used in the field of Fenton-like wastewater treatment, its ability to activate H2O2 still needs to be further improved. In this context, a novel Agx/CFOOVs (x represents the theoretical mass percentage of Ag) composite catalyst was prepared by the tartaric acid reduction method for the first time, and its degradation performance and degradation mechanism of Phenol in a H2O2-based Fenton-like system were investigated. Through a series of characterizations, the successful preparation of the catalyst was confirmed. The degradation experiment showed that the degradation rate of 50mg/L Phenol by Ag2/CFOOVs/H2O2 system was 98.55% within 15min, which was a significant improvement in the degradation efficiency compared with that of CuFe2O4 and CFOOVs. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electron spin resonance (ESR) confirmed the successful introduction of oxygen vacancies (OVs). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) showed that Ag2/CFOOVs had the lowest impedance, and the synergistic effect of OVs and Ag effectively enhanced the degradation capability of the catalysts for Phenol. The capture experiments of active species and ESR tests showed that the main active species of the Ag2/CFOOVs/H2O2 system were 1O2 and •OH. This study provides a new reference for the introduction of OVs and Ag in Fenton-like catalysts and their application to wastewater treatment.

Synergistic activation of persulfate by manganese sulfide and Fe2+: Roles of Fe and enhancement mechanisms

Manganese sulfide (MnS) has been considered as a persulfate (PS) activator due to the presence of manganese and sulfur elements. Manganese sulfide (MnS) has been considered as a persulfate (PS) activator due to the presence of manganese and sulfur elements. However, the water solubility and hydrophobicity of MnS result in inefficient PS activation. Herein, we demonstrated that the MnS/PS system was significantly efficient for the degradation of phenol in the presence of Fe2+. Within the MnS/PS system, the Fe2+/Fe3+ cycle could act as a station to facilitate the transfer of electrons from Mn2+ and S2- to PS, thereby enhancing electron transfer efficiency. As a result, the degradation efficiency of phenol reached 91.38% within 30 min in the Fe2+/ MnS/PS system, but the MnS/PS system without Fe2+ was only 61.63%, and the reaction rate of the former was 2.52 times that of the latter. In addition, the effects of different conditions on phenol degradation were investigated, including MnS, Fe2+, PS, phenol, initial solution pH, inorganic anions. Quenching experiment and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) confirmed that sulfate radical, hydroxyl radical and singlet oxygen were the main active substances in the degradation of phenol. This study provides a promising idea for application in the advanced treatment of groundwater and wastewater at the end of flocculation treatment with high background iron ions.