Co and N co-doped hierarchical porous carbon as peroxymonosulfate activator for phenol degradation via nonradical pathway mechanism

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engineering aspects Vol. 655; p. 130121
• Main Authors: Wang, Shuyun, Xia, Yun, Tan, Ling, Luo, Haopeng, Liu, Yanan, Chen, Huan, Jiang, Fang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 20.12.2022
• Subjects: carbon; catalytic activity; Hierarchical porous carbon; High-valence cobalt species; Peroxymonosulfate; phenol; Phenol degradation; Singlet oxygen; temperature; transmission electron microscopes; wastewater; Singlet oxygen; Peroxymonosulfate; High-valence cobalt species; Phenol degradation; Hierarchical porous carbon
• ISSN: 0927-7757; 1873-4359
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2022.130121

Developing catalysts with high metal utilization rates for activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) has attracted extensive attention. Herein, Co and N co-doped hierarchical porous carbon (Co/HOPNC) was synthesized successfully for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation to degrade phenol. Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) confirmed that this hierarchical porous carbon indeed offered a site for the highly dispersed with low doping amount of Co. The 1.5 % Co/HOPNC exhibited the optimal removal efficiency and admirable adaptability to pH, temperature and different co-existing ions, which was credited to the highly dispersing Co atoms. Furthermore, the leaching of Co showed a neglectable impact on catalytic efficiency, revealing metal leaching was indeed inhibited. Remarkably, singlet oxygen (1O2) and high-valence Co-oxo species were verified as major contributors to enhance the catalytic activity. This finding gives a unique insight in PMS activation mechanism triggered nonradical pathways of hierarchical porous carbon materials. Moreover, the 1.5 % Co/HOPNC displayed an outstanding effect on phenol degradation in actual wastewater which expressed great potential in practical applications. [Display omitted] •A hierarchical ordered porous carbon was prepared by a simple template method.•Hierarchical porous architecture of carbon allows high dispersion of Co.•Highly dispersed Co as active site provides excellent performance with low metal leaching.•High-valence Co−oxo species and singlet oxygen account for phenols degradation.