Efficient degradation of bisphenol A in water by heterogeneous activation of peroxymonosulfate using highly active cobalt ferrite nanoparticles

Chun Cai; Shuping Kang; Xianjun Xie; Chanjuan Liao; Xiaodi Duan; Dionysios D Dionysiou

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122979

Efficient degradation of bisphenol A in water by heterogeneous activation of peroxymonosulfate using highly active cobalt ferrite nanoparticles

J Hazard Mater. 2020 Nov 15:399:122979. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122979. Epub 2020 May 20.

Authors

Chun Cai¹, Shuping Kang², Xianjun Xie², Chanjuan Liao³, Xiaodi Duan⁴, Dionysios D Dionysiou⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hubei Water Systematic Pollution Control and Remediation Technology Engineering Center, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China; Environmental Engineering and Science Program, University of Cincinnati, OH, 45221-0071, United States.
² Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hubei Water Systematic Pollution Control and Remediation Technology Engineering Center, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China.
³ College of Resources & Environment, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China.
⁴ Environmental Engineering and Science Program, University of Cincinnati, OH, 45221-0071, United States. Electronic address: duanxdi@gmail.com.
⁵ Environmental Engineering and Science Program, University of Cincinnati, OH, 45221-0071, United States. Electronic address: dionysios.d.dionysiou@uc.edu.

PMID: 32497686
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122979

Abstract

Cobalt ferrite CoFe₂O₄ catalyst was fabricated and systematically investigated as an efficient peroxymonosulfate (PMS, HSO₅^-) activator for the degradation of recalcitrant organic contaminants (ROCs) in water treatment. Both SO₄^- and OH on the surface of catalyst were unveiled to be primarily responsible for bisphenol A (BPA) degradation by a comprehensive study using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), radical scavengers and quantification of SO₄^-, and the negligible contribution of singlet oxygen (¹O₂) was also observed. BPA degradation was accelerated in the presence of humic acid, and it increased first but then decreased with the further addition of fulvic acid. Moreover, the presence of chloride and bicarbonate ions can enhance both BPA and TOC removal. The toxicity of the target aqueous solution ascended slowly at the early stage but then declined dramatically and almost vanished as the reaction proceeded. The removal efficiencies of other typical ROCs (clofibric acid, 2,4-dichlorophenol, etc.) and the decontamination of natural surface water spiked with BPA were also evaluated. This CoFe₂O₄/PMS process could be well applied as a safe, efficient, and sustainable approach for ROCs remediation in complex wastewater matrix.

Keywords: Cobalt ferrite nanoparticles; Hydroxyl radicals; Reaction mechanism; Recalcitrant organic contaminants; Sulfate radicals.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't