Dual Effect of Manganese Oxide Micromotors: Catalytic Degradation and Adsorptive Bubble Separation of Organic Pollutants

Abstract

Manganese oxide (MnO2 ) based micromotors exhibiting a dual effect, that is, catalytic degradation and adsorptive bubble separation, were employed for water remediation. The dual effect of MnO2 microparticles led to a greater than 90 % of decolorization of non-biodegradable organic dyes in just 1 h, without the need for external agitation or bubble generation. These findings suggest high potential of MnO2 micromotors for decontamination of organic pollutants from wastewaters or natural water reserves.

Keywords: catalytic degradation; decolorization; manganese oxide; micromotors; remediation.