A novel, Z-scheme ZnO@AC@FeO photocatalyst, suitable for the intensification of photo-mediated peroxymonosulfate activation: Performance, reactivity and bisphenol A degradation pathways

Farzan Hayati; Sina Moradi; Sara Farshineh Saei; Zahra Madani; Stefanos Giannakis; Ali Akbar Isari; Babak Kakavandi

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115851

A novel, Z-scheme ZnO@AC@FeO photocatalyst, suitable for the intensification of photo-mediated peroxymonosulfate activation: Performance, reactivity and bisphenol A degradation pathways

J Environ Manage. 2022 Nov 1:321:115851. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115851. Epub 2022 Aug 16.

Authors

Farzan Hayati¹, Sina Moradi¹, Sara Farshineh Saei², Zahra Madani³, Stefanos Giannakis⁴, Ali Akbar Isari⁵, Babak Kakavandi⁶

Affiliations

¹ Abadan Faculty of Petroleum Engineering, Petroleum University of Technology (PUT), Abadan, Iran.
² Department of Chemistry, Binghamton University, The State University of New York, 4400 Vestal Parkway East, Binghamton, NY, 13902, United States.
³ Research Center for Health, Safety and Environment, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran; Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
⁴ Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, E.T.S. de Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Departamento de Ingeniería Civil: Hidráulica, Energía y Medio Ambiente, Unidad docente Ingeniería Sanitaria, c/ Profesor Aranguren, s/n, ES-28040, Madrid, Spain.
⁵ Department of Basic and Applied Sciences for Engineering, SAPIENZA University of Rome, Italy.
⁶ Research Center for Health, Safety and Environment, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran; Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran. Electronic address: kakavandibvch@gmail.com.

PMID: 35985269
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115851

Abstract

In this study, the intensification of a UVC-based PMS activation treatment is performed by a novel photocatalyst. Using ZnO nanoparticles coupled with activated carbon (AC), impregnated by ferroferric oxides (FO, magnetite), as an effective Z-scheme photocatalyst (ZACFO), the effective Bisphenol A (BP-A) removal was attained. Several techniques were applied for the characterization of the as-prepared catalyst and proved the successful preparation of ZACFO. The photocatalytic activity of pristine ZnO was significantly improved after its combination with ACFO. It was found that the fabrication of ZACFO heterostructures could inhibit the charge carriers recombination and also accelerate the charge separation of photo-induced e^-/h⁺ pairs. Under this UVC-based photocatalysis-mediated PMS activation system, ZACFO showed an excellent potential as compared to the single constituent catalysts. The complete degradation of 20 mg/L concentration of BP-A was attained in just 20 min with excellent reaction rate constant of 27.3 × 10^-2 min^-1. Besides, over 60% of TOC was eliminated by the integrated ZACFO/PMS/UV system within 60 min of reaction. The minor inhibition by most matrix components, the high recycling capability with minor metals' leaching and the effectiveness in complex matrices, constitute this composite method an efficient and promising process for treating real wastewater samples. Finally, based on the photo-produced reactive intermediates and by-products identified, the Z-scheme photocatalytic mechanism and the plausible pathway of BP-A degradation were proposed comprehensively. The presence and role of radical and non-radical pathways in the decontamination process of BP-A over ZACFO/PMS/UV system was confirmed.

Keywords: Bisphenol A; Magnetic nanoparticles; Non-radical pathways; Peroxymonosulfate activation; Z-scheme photocatalyst.

MeSH terms

Benzhydryl Compounds
Charcoal*
Peroxides / chemistry
Phenols
Zinc Oxide* / chemistry

Substances

Benzhydryl Compounds
Peroxides
Phenols
Charcoal
peroxymonosulfate
bisphenol A
Zinc Oxide