Activity Of PS Research Articles

Recent Advance of Atomically Dispersed Dual‐Metal Sites Carbocatalysts: Properties, Synthetic Materials, Catalytic Mechanisms, and Applications in Persulfate‐Based Advanced Oxidation Process

AbstractRecently, atomically dispersed dual‐metal sites carbocatalysts (DMSCs) make a wave in the field of persulfate‐based advanced oxidation processes (PS‐AOPs) in light of their ≈100% atomic utilization efficiency, high density of active sites, and superior catalytic activity. This review aims to provide a state‐of‐the‐art overview on the development of DMSCs for activating PS. Initially, the types and properties of DMSCs are summarized, as well as the role of doping different heteroatoms is discussed. Subsequently, the properties of different carbon carriers and the methods for the synthesis of DMSCs are outlined. After that, the mechanism and application of DMSCs for the activation of PS toward organic contaminants degradation are revealed. Particularly, the mechanism of nonradical pathway is described, and the necessity of coupling DMSCs‐based PS‐AOPs to other processes for practical water treatment is emphasized. Finally, the formidable challenges and future research directions of DMSCs are proposed. This review is expected to provide insight into the preparation of DMSCs in the field of nanomaterials and to broaden the path for their environmental applications.

Efficient elimination of phenazone by an electro-assisted Fe3+-EDDS/PS process at neutral pH: Kinetics, mechanistic insights and toxicity evaluation

The feasibility of the degradation of phenazone (PNZ), a common anti-inflammatory drug used for reducing pain and fever, in water at neutral pH by an electrochemically assisted Fe3+-ethylenediamine disuccinate-activated persulfate process (EC/Fe3+-EDDS/PS) was investigated. The efficient removal of PNZ at neutral pH condition was mainly attributed to the continuous activation of PS via electrochemically driven regenerated Fe2+ from a Fe3+-EDDS complex at the cathode. The influence of several critical parameters, including current density, Fe3+ concentration, EDDS to Fe3+ molar ratio, and PS dosage, on PNZ degradation was evaluated and optimized. Both hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and sulfate radicals (SO4●–) were considered major reactive species responsible for PNZ degradation. To understand the mechanistic model of action at the molecular level, the thermodynamic and kinetic behaviors of the reactions between PNZ with •OH and SO4●– were theoretically calculated using a density functional theory (DFT) method. The results revealed that radical adduct formation (RAF) is the most favorable pathway for the •OH-driven oxidation of PNZ, while single electron transfer (SET) appears to be the dominant pathway for the reaction of SO4●– with PNZ. In total, thirteen oxidation intermediates were identified, and hydroxylation, pyrazole ring opening, dephenylization, and demethylation were speculated to be the major degradation pathways. Furthermore, predicted toxicity to aquatic organisms indicated that PNZ degradation resulted in products that were less harmful. However, the developmental toxicity of PNZ and its intermediate products should be further investigated in the environment. The findings of this work demonstrate the viability of effectively removing organic contaminants in water at near-neutral pH by using EDDS chelation combined with electrochemistry in a Fe3+/persulfate system.

Enhanced electrokinetic remediation by magnetic induction for the treatment of co-contaminated soil

The electroplating industry site is an important reservoir of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and heavy metals. In this work, a novel electrokinetic in-situ chemical oxidation system was established to restore an actual soil co-contaminated with high concentrations of heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Zn and Ni) and PFASs. Potassium persulfate (PS, K2S2O8) and industrial waste steel slag were used as the oxidant and activator, respectively. The steel slag was evenly added in the soil, while PS was dosed in the cathode chamber. Citric acid fermentation broth produced by Aspergillus niger was added in the anode chamber to act as the metal chelator. A periodic alternating magnetic field was employed to enhance the catalytic performance of steel slag for PS. After 15-day treatment, 86.7% of PFASs and 87.2% of heavy metals were removed without PFASs accumulation in the electrolyte, with a defluorination percentage of 79.2%. The remediated soil had no phytotoxicity for wheat seed growth based on 7-day cultivation results. The quality of remediated soil could reach the national Class II criteria for residential use. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis demonstrated that SO4•– and •OH were the major oxidative radicals responsible for PFASs degradation. Adding steel slag in the soil performed better than that in the cathode chamber based on pollutant removal and alleviating soil acidification. Magnetic induction could enhance PS activation by promote the corrosion of steel slag and thermal activation, thus increasing electrical current and electroosmotic flow, enhancing the transport of citric acid and PS, significantly improving the removal efficiency of heavy metals and PFASs.

Preparation, Morphological and Antibacterial Activity of PS–PC/MnO2–SiC Nanocomposites for Biomedical Applications

Preparation, Morphological and Antibacterial Activity of PS–PC/MnO2–SiC Nanocomposites for Biomedical Applications

Carbonyl and defect of metal-free char trigger electron transfer and O2•− in persulfate activation for Aniline aerofloat degradation

Residual flotation reagents in mineral processing wastewater can trigger severe ecological threats to the local groundwater if they are discharged without treatment. Metal-free biochar-induced persulfate-advanced oxidation processes (KCBC/PS) were used in this study to elucidate the degradation of aniline aerofloat (AAF) – a typical flotation reagent. In KCBC/PS system, AAF can be removed at low doses of catalyst (KCBC, 0.05 g/L) and oxidant (PS, 0.3 mM) additions with high efficiency. The analysis revealed the dominance of O2•− among the identified reactive oxygen species (ROS), which achieved deeper mineralization for the AAF degradation in the KCBC/PS system. The role of the electron transfer mechanism was equally important; the importance was corroborated by the chemical quenching experiments, electron spin resonance (ESR) detection, probe experiments, and electrochemical analysis. It benefited from the electron transfer mechanism in the KCBC/PS system and exhibited a wide pH adaptation (3.5–11) and high resistance to inorganic anions for real mining wastewater treatment. Combined with theoretical calculations and other analyses, the carbonyl group was deemed to be the active site of the non-radical pathway of biochar, while the site of the conversion of SO4•− to superoxide radicals by biochar activation represented a defect. These findings revealed a synergistic effect of multiple active sites on PS activation in biochar-based materials. Moreover, the intermediate degradation products of AAF from mass spectrometry indicated a possible pathway through the density functional theory (DFT) method, which was effective in reducing the environmental toxicity of pollutants for the first time according to the T.E.S.T software and seed germination experiments. Overall, our study proposed a novel modification strategy for cost-effective and environmentally friendly biochar-based catalysts, while also deepening our understanding of the mechanism of activation of persulfate by metal-free carbon-based materials.

The influence of ABA on the photosynthesis of the rare and endangered Emmenopterys henryi under salt stress

Emmenopterys henryi Oliv., a monotypic genus in family Rubiaceae with high scientific and application value, is currently endangered. Adaptability of E. henryi to environment is important for its cultivation, management, and application. In this paper, the effect of abscisic acid (ABA) on the photosynthesis of E. henryi under salt stress was discussed. Results showed that 0.3 % (m/v) NaCl led to reduction of net photosynthetic rate (PN), instantaneous carboxylation efficiency (ICE), and Rubisco activity but the increase of intercellular CO2 concentration (ci), which were remarkable relieved by ABA pretreatment. NaCl also induced reduction of the maximal efficiency of PS II photochemistry (Fv/Fm), the photochemical quenching (qP), the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), the actual PS II efficiency [Y(II)], the regulated-energy dissipation [Y(NPQ)], whereas the increase of the unregulated energy dissipation [Y(NO)]. ABA application remarkably mitigated the depression of Fv/Fm, qP, Y(II) and the increase of Y(NO), but further promoted NPQ and Y(NPQ) in E. henryi due to high salinity. In addition, decrease of chlorophyll content, accumulation of MDA, and ion leakage in E. henryi due to high salinity were significantly alleviated by ABA pretreatment. Fluridone, an inhibitor of endogenous ABA synthesis, partially or completely reversed ABA mediated effects. These results suggested that ABA might improve the photosynthesis of E. henryi under salt stress via allocating more energy to photochemical reactions, or/and mitigating the decrease of Rubisco activity, or/and protecting photosynthetic apparatus by reinforcement of heat dissipation and alleviating oxidative damage.

Natural coal gangue as a stable catalyst to activate persulfate: tetracycline hydrochloride degradation and its explored mechanism

The surface-bonded hydroxyl groups on CG play the dominant role in PS activation and TC removal.

Research progress of metal-organic framework-based material activation of persulfate to degrade organic pollutants in water.

The rapid development of industry in recent years has led to the introduction of serious pollutants into water bodies, and there is an urgent need for efficient organic degradation technologies. At present, selective peroxynitrite (PS) oxidation (SR-AOPs) is an effective way to treat pollutants in water bodies, and it is necessary to select a suitable material for the activation of peroxynitrite. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), with their tunable structure, large specific surface area, and tunable ligand molecules exhibit excellent reactivity and catalytic performance in the activation of persulfate. With MOF-based materials for PS activation as a novel advanced oxidation technology, this study reviews MOFs and their composites and derived materials. The current research status of activated persulfate for the treatment of organic pollutants in water, the influence of different systems on the degradation performance are discussed, and the activation and degradation mechanisms are discussed; the problems of the above materials in the degradation of organic pollutants are summarized, and research directions based on the coupled activated persulfate system of MOF materials are proposed.

Single-atom Co-N3 sites supported on waste paper-derived active carbon for synergistic adsorption and catalytic degradation of antibiotics

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are emerging heterogeneous catalysts, which have been shown to be promising for a wide range of applications. Herein, we report the fabrication of single-atom Co sites with regulated Co-N3 coordination supported on waste paper-derived active carbon (WPAC). The high specific surface area (535.2 m2 g−1) and active Co-N3 single sites endowed the Co-N3/WPAC with high adsorption capacity and excellent catalytic performance. The maximum adsorption capacity of sulfisoxazole (SIZ) onto Co-N3/WPAC reached 274.5 mg g−1, and the removal percentage of SIZ reached ∼93.0 % within 1.0 min in the Co-N3/WPAC+PS system. The bifunctional properties of Co-N3/WPAC led to the efficient preconcentration of organic pollutants from aqueous solution as well as in-situ oxidation of them via the catalytic oxidation process. In addition, the Co-N3/WPAC+PS system exhibited a wide operating pH range (3−11), high mineralization capacity (∼89.3 %) and excellent reusability for the degradation of SIZ. Mechanism studies suggested that the Co-N3 active sites were responsible for enhanced generation of the reactive oxygen species via PS activation, and both radical and non-radical processes contributed to the oxidation of SIZ. This work provides new insights into the resourceful disposal of waste paper and the application of SACs for environmental remediation.

Photoelectric activation of persulfate with a new type of red mud-based CuFe2O4 particle electrode for the efficient degradation of ciprofloxacin: Preparation, influencing factors and mechanism

In our study, a new type composite of red mud-based CuFe2O4 particle electrode (CuFe2O4/RM) was prepared by a solid-phase method, and was applied in the photoelectric activation of PS for the ciprofloxacin (CIP) degradation. The optimal preparation conditions of CuFe2O4/RM were as follows: mass ratios of Cu(NO3)2·3H2O to RM 0.5 g/1 g, calcination temperature 800 °C and calcination time 2 h. The prepared CuFe2O4/RM were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS). The maximum removal ratio (71.39 %) of CIP was achieved after 60 min treatment under the optimal operating conditions of CuFe2O4/RM dosage 1.0 g/L, PS concentration 9 mmol/L, initial pH 7 and applied current 640 mA. The maximum removal ratios of chemical oxygen demand (CODCr) and total organic carbon (TOC) of the CIP solution were about 49.21 % and 35.7 % after 60 min treatment, respectively. It was found that there was a synergistic effect of visible light, electric field, PS and CuFe2O4/RM in the photoelectric-activated PS system. Combined with the results of XPS, quenching experiment and Electron spin resonance (ESR), the possible catalytic mechanisms of photoelectric-activated PS system were proposed. Besides, the CuFe2O4/RM remained its excellent stability after four cycles. In conclusion, the photoelectric-activated PS system catalyzed by CuFe2O4/RM particle electrodes was proved to be a promising technology for the degradation of CIP in water.

Degradation of contaminants of PPCPs by photocatalysis for water purification: Kinetics, mechanisms, and cytotoxicity analysis

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) have drawn increasing regulatory attention and research interest in recent years. Since it does not require any additional dissolved oxidants, heterogeneous photocatalytic technology has attracted much interest in the efficient degradation of PPCPs in recent years. The present study examined the degradation kinetics of PPCPs using Fe-ZnS@TiO2/nickel foam photocatalytic system (ZTN PS) in Milli-Q water and a solid surface water background, including estrone, diclofenac, cyclophosphamide, triclosan, and sulfamethoxazole. To evaluate ZTN PS, MF-treated water samples from the Songhua River (SR) were obtained and used as reaction matrices with spiked additions of PPCPs. The influence of single ion addition on degradation kinetics was investigated to determine the degradation rule under various water parameter conditions. Using high-resolution mass spectrometry to identify transformation products (TPs), potential degradation pathways of a few PPCPs were hypothesised. During photocatalysis, the oxidation properties of different oxidants (photogenic holes, OH, O2−) on different structural sites of PPCPs were analysed. To examine possible environmental impacts of PPCP degradation by ZTN PS, cytotoxicity and estrogen (ER) receptor-binding activity were evaluated. It was found that ZTN PS substantially reduced cytotoxicity and estrogenic activity while degrading PPCPs in Milli-Q water. Also, the presence of complex substances in water did not significantly affect the toxicity of mixed PPCP degradation TPs. However, comparing natural water to Milli-Q water, the toxicity and ER-binding activity of TPs under natural water background increased marginally (9%–13％). Thus, this study aimed to understand the effects of post-ZTN PS PPCPs and TPs on human and environmental health at the cellular level.

Removal of methylene blue and azo reactive dyes from aqueous solution and textile effluent via modified pulsed low-frequency ultrasound cavitation process.

Organic dyes in the aqueous solutions and textile effluents cause severe environmental pollution due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic nature. Ultrasound (US) cavitation is one of the promising advanced oxidation processes (AOP) to remove the organic dyes from the aqueous solutions and textile effluents. Nevertheless, the conventional low-frequency US cavitation process exhibits very low efficiency in the dye removal process and demands effective modification to improve its performance. In this investigation, a conventional pulsed low-frequency (22 ± 2kHz) US cavitation process has been modified by varying the US power (50-150W), initial solution pH (2-10), and O2 flow rate (1-4 L min-1) to enhance the decomposition of cationic methylene blue (MB) dye in an aqueous solution. The operation of the classic Haber-Weiss reaction, both in the forward and backward directions, and the ozone effect have been observed, for the first time, under the modified US cavitation process, as confirmed via the radical trapping experiments. Moreover, the hydrothermally synthesized hydrogen titanate (H2Ti3O7) nanotubes (HTN) have been utilized as sonocatalyst, for the first time, for 100% dye removal, with effective regeneration obtained via an in-situ thermal activation of persulfate (PS, S2O82-). The most optimum values of US power, initial solution pH, O2 flow rate, HTN, and PS concentrations for 100% MB decomposition are observed to be 150W, 2, 2 L min-1, 0.3g L-1, and 10mM, respectively. The decomposition of industrial azo reactive dyes in an aqueous solution as well as in a textile effluent has also been demonstrated using a modified pulsed low-frequency US cavitation process involving the thermal activation of PS without the use of HTN, which justifies its suitability for a commercial application.

Accelerated degradation of groundwater-containing malathion using persulfate activated magnetic Fe3O4/graphene oxide nanocomposite for advanced water treatment

Malathion (MT) is a widely used organophosphate insecticide with a broad spectrum. MT residues in the environment even at low concentrations can have adverse effects on humans, plants, animals, and ecosystems. In this study aimed to investigate the MT degradation yield from groundwater using persulfate activated magnetic Fe3O4/graphene oxide nanocomposite (PS/Fe3O4-GO MNCs). Thus, the effects of MT concentration, the dosage of PS and Fe3O4-GO MNCs, pH value along with reaction time were investigated and further optimized applying Response Surface Method (RSM). This model equation showed a sufficient match with the measured results from the experimental data with the correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.9819 according to the analysis of variance. For the optimal yield, MT concentration of 3.7 mg/L, PS of 2.25 mM, Fe3O4-GO MNCs dosage of 225 mg/L, reaction time of 22 min and pH of 4 were obtained. Moreover, for MT degradation, the estimated optimal degradation efficiency was 96.5 %. Furthermore, a distinct synergistic effect was observed upon the usage of Fe3O4-GO MNCs for PS activation. The MT degradation rate is generally characterized by a pseudo-first-order kinetic model. Besides, experiments with radical scavengers revealed that both OH∙ and SO4-∙radicals had significant functions in MT degradation yields, with sulphate radicals being the dominant species. Conclusively, results revealed that the PS/Fe3O4-GO MNCs degradation process is an effective method for remediating waters that have been polluted with MT and related pesticides.

A Review on N-Doped Biochar for Oxidative Degradation of Organic Contaminants in Wastewater by Persulfate Activation.

The Persulfate-based advanced oxidation process is the most efficient and commonly used technology to remove organic contaminants in wastewater. Due to the large surface area, unique electronic properties, abundant N functional groups, cost-effectiveness, and environmental friendliness, N-doped biochars (NBCs) are widely used as catalysts for persulfate activation. This review focuses on the NBC for oxidative degradation of organics-contaminated wastewater. Firstly, the preparation and modification methods of NBCs were reviewed. Then the catalytic performance of NBCs and modified NBCs on the oxidation degradation of organic contaminants were discussed with an emphasis on the degradation mechanism. We further summarized the detection technologies of activation mechanisms and the structures of NBCs affecting the PS activation, followed by the specific role of the N configuration of the NBC on its catalytic capacity. Finally, several challenges in the treatment of organics-contaminated wastewater by a persulfate-based advanced oxidation process were put forward and the recommendations for future research were proposed for further understanding of the advanced oxidation process activated by the NBC.

Applying Machine Learning to Study the Marketing Mix's Effectiveness in a Social Marketing Context

This study examines the effectiveness of the marketing mix practiced on Twitter across high-end and low-end fashion brands and explores whether any four Ps activities have changed across the different pandemic stages. A quantitative research method was designed to analyze text data scraped from identified fashion brands' Twitter accounts. A classification instrument was developed to group tweets based on the four Ps marketing mix. Then the developed instrument was applied to a small set of 145 tweets randomly sampled from the collected data. Logistic regression models were then trained using the sample set to predict four Ps activities on all the collected 144k tweets. The numbers of likes per tweet and frequencies of being retweeted per tweet were used to measure engagement effectiveness across brands.

Excess sludge biochar facilitates persulfate activation for highly efficient tetracycline removal.

This study proposed a novel advanced oxidation system to treat metal and antibiotic pollution in water simultaneously. Meanwhile, the enhancement effect of absorbed metal pollution on the activation of persulfate in the system was also investigated. As the most widely used and polluting material, tetracycline (TC) and metal Fe were used as the pollutant models. In this study, a carbonaceous material (BC) was prepared from excess sludge and then combined with the persulfate system (Fe/BC/PS). It was found that the best biochar was obtained when the pyrolysis temperature reached 500 °C (BC500), with the specific surface area of 39.712 m2/g. Combining it with 300 mg/L PS, the removal rate of 120 mg/L TC reached 70.6%. Moreover, the sludge biochar itself possessed numerous reaction sites and good defective structure, which provided a perfect reaction site for the variable metals absorbed by BC. They accelerated electron conduction greatly, which led to the activation of PS very active and generating far more active radicals than normal. In addition, it also proposed the rational pathway and potential mechanism of TC degradation based on the degradation intermediates. This study has a high reference value for resource utilization of sewage sludge and antibiotics removal from water.

Review on Using Persulfate as an Activator for Wastewater Treatment

Persulfate (PS, S2O8-2) has a standard oxidation potential making it use for treatment of a wide range of pollutants. It is also used within Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs),where Sulfate radicals (SR) can be effectively generated through PS activation by physical methods (such as heating, UV) and chemical methods (including transition metal ions, alkaline conditions), as well as coupling activation methods. Overall, SR-AOPs not limited applied to the treatment of refractory organics in wastewater but also are efficient in dealing with novel/emerging pollutants.

Development of Plant Protein Derived Tri Angular Shaped Nano Zinc Oxide Particles with Inherent Antibacterial and Neurotoxicity Properties.

The synthesis of nanometer-sized metallic nanoparticles utilizing bio-sources is one of the most cost-effective and ecologically friendly approaches. Nano-zinc oxide particles (N-ZnO Ps) were made using a simple green synthesis method using an aqueous zinc nitrate salt and Perilla frutescens crude protein as a protecting and reducing agent in the current work. UV-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), (energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy) EDX and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) were used to characterize the synthesized N-ZnO Ps. A distinctive UV-vis absorption peak was observed at 370 nm due to N-ZnO Ps. The SEM and HR-TEM pictures revealed N-ZnO Ps with a triangular form. The XRD pattern indicated the wurtzite structure of N-ZnO Ps. Nanoparticles exhibited a zeta potential of −11.3 mV. The antibacterial activity of N-ZnO Ps was tested against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumonia) microorganisms. The N-ZnO Ps were non-toxic to HMC-3 human normal brain microglia cells; however, they exhibited a potential cytotoxic effect on the LN-18 human brain glioblastoma cell line. These results indicate that N-ZnOPs can act as promising antibacterial and anticancer treatments in the prevention of Glioblastoma.

Sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation process (SR-AOP) on titania supported mesoporous dendritic silica (TiO2/MDS) for the degradation of carbamazepine and other water pollutants

Sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs) coupled with photocatalysis provide a viable solution for complete degradation of micropollutants pollutants, These micropollutants pose a significant threat to humans and aquatic organisms. In this study, TiO2 supported on mesoporous dendritic silica (TiO2/MDS) was prepared via ultrasonic assisted impregnation method for degradation of carbamazepine and other micropollutants in the presence of persulfate. FT-IR, XRD, BET, FE-SEM/EDS, TEM, PL, UV–Vis DRS, XPS, and electrochemical techniques were employed for characterization. The TiO2/MDS system exhibits an efficient PS activation activity and outstanding CBZ degradation efficiency compared to MDS and TiO2 system. The results also show that CBZ solution could be completely degraded with 1.0 mM PS and 0.5 g/L photocatalyst. The high activity and stability were a result of reduced electron-hole recombination, effective charge separation and transfer, and a longer electron lifetime observed in TiO2/MDS, among others. The MDS as the support also improved the adsorption and proximity of reactants to the TiO2 activity sites in the system. Additionally, the TiO2/MDS/PS/UV system was tested for degradation of amoxicillin, sulfamethoxazole, naproxen, and bisphenol A. Quenching experiments demonstrated that OH•, SO4•-, h+ and O2•- contributed to the overall degradation efficiency. The results undoubtedly illustrate that the TiO2/MDS/persulfate system is an effective system with potential applicability for water treatment.

Degradation of Tetracycline in Water by Fe-Modified Sterculia Foetida Biochar Activated Peroxodisulfate

Tetracycline (TC) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic commonly, made use of in aquaculture and animal husbandry. After entering water bodies, it will represent a major threat to human health. In this study, sterculia foetida biochar (SFC) was readied by the combined hydrothermal pyrolysis (co-HTP) method with sterculia foetida as raw materials. Fen-SFC (Fe2-SFC, Fe3-SFC, and Fe4-SFC) was obtained by doping SFH with different concentrations of FeCl3. Finally, activation of peroxodisulfate (PDS) was achieved, using Fe3-SFC to degrade TC. The degradation of TC obeyed pseudo-second-order kinetics, and the constant of the reaction rate was 0.491 L mg−1 min−1. Radical trapping experiments, EPR test and electrochemical tests evidenced that the high catalytic performance of the Fe3-SFC/PDS system was ascribed to free radical pathway (•OH and SO4•−) and non-radical pathway (1O2 and electron transfer), in which the latter plays a dominant role. This research not only demonstrates a new kind of biochar as an effective catalyst for PS activation, but also offers an avenue for the value-added reuse of sterculia foetida.