Nanoarchitectonics of ternary Zn-Mn-Co oxides for efficient peroxymonosulfate activation and antibiotics degradation via accelerating electron transfer

• Published in: Journal of environmental chemical engineering Vol. 12; no. 3; p. 113010
• Main Authors: Xie, Hengyi, Zhang, Gangsheng, Xu, Jixiang, Lin, Haifeng, Wang, Lei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2024
• Subjects: Electron transfer; PMS activation; TC degradation; ZnO/Mn3O4/Co3O4; Electron transfer; PMS activation; TC degradation; ZnO/Mn3O4/Co3O4
• ISSN: 2213-3437; 2213-3437
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2024.113010

In this work, a new nanoarchitectonics of ZnO/Mn3O4/Co3O4 (ZnMnCoO) was prepared by solvothermal and calcining processes, and used to degrade tetracycline (TC) with peroxymonosulfate (PMS) as oxidant. Coupling of trace Co3O4 (1.48 wt% Co) and difference in work functions of ZnO, Mn3O4, Co3O4 enabled ZnMnCoO to possess good PMS activation performance. 97.8% of TC was degraded in 30 min with reactive rate constant of 0.166 min–1, which was 2.6 and 1.4 times higher than those of Mn3O4/PMS and ZnO/Mn3O4/PMS systems, respectively. It was found that SO4•–, O2•−, 1O2, and complex-mediated electron transfer played the main roles in oxidizing TC. In addition, ZnMnCoO was attached to a polytetrafluoroethylene microfiltration membrane to degrade TC via a flow-through device, and 92.4% of TC (10 ppm TC, tap water) and 78.2% of total organic carbon were removed in 120 min. This study designs a novel composite with low Co content to efficiently activate PMS and degrade antibiotics. •ZnO/Mn3O4/Co3O4 with 1.48% Co was prepared to activate PMS to degrade antibiotics.•Work functions difference enables electron transfer and PMS activation enhanced.•O2•−, 1O2, electron transfer pathway play the main roles in pollutant degradation.•92.4% TC (10 ppm, tap water) and 78.2% TOC were removed via a flow-through device