Tailored design of three-dimensional rGOA-nZVI catalyst as an activator of persulfate for degradation of organophosphorus pesticides

Mingyi Fan; Peng Zhang; Cuiping Wang; Jingchun Tang; Hongwen Sun

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128254

Tailored design of three-dimensional rGOA-nZVI catalyst as an activator of persulfate for degradation of organophosphorus pesticides

J Hazard Mater. 2022 Apr 15:428:128254. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128254. Epub 2022 Jan 13.

Authors

Mingyi Fan¹, Peng Zhang², Cuiping Wang¹, Jingchun Tang¹, Hongwen Sun³

Affiliations

¹ MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, Tianjin 300350, China.
² MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, Tianjin 300350, China. Electronic address: nkzhangpeng@nankai.edu.cn.
³ MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, Tianjin 300350, China. Electronic address: sunhongwen@nankai.edu.cn.

PMID: 35051772
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128254

Abstract

In this study, three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide aerogel (rGOA)-supported nanozero-valent iron (rGOA-nZVI) was successfully synthesized via tailored design and applied to activate persulfate (PS) to degrade three organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs; phorate, terbufos and parathion) in water and a historically contaminated soil. The results showed that loading nZVI nanoparticles on rGOA could prevent the aggregation of nZVI. rGOA-nZVI presented a better catalytic performance for PS activation to degrade the three OPPs than bare nZVI and rGOA, with degradation efficiencies of greater than 99.5% within 5 min. pH had negligible effects on the PS activated by rGOA-nZVI (rGOA-nZVI/PS). EPR measurements and radical quenching experiments showed that ·SO₄^- and ·OH were the main radicals responsible for OPP removal in the rGOA-nZVI/PS system. Furthermore, nine intermediates were identified, and the oxidation and scission of C-S-C, P-S/O and PS were the dominant degradation pathways of the three OPPs in aqueous solutions treated with rGOA-nZVI/PS. Additionally, rGOA-nZVI/PS achieved degradation efficiencies of 95.1% for phorate, 79.9% for terbufos and 89.1% for parathion in the contaminated soil, and the detected intermediates could be further degraded except triethylphosphate. Overall, this study provides practical knowledge for OPP removal by rGOA-nZVI/PS in wastewater and actual contaminated soil.

Keywords: Advanced oxidation process; NZVI; Organophosphorus pesticides; Persulfate; Reduced graphene oxide aerogel.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Graphite*
Organophosphorus Compounds
Pesticides*
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Organophosphorus Compounds
Pesticides
Water Pollutants, Chemical
graphene oxide
Graphite