Developing a high-quality catalyst from the pyrolysis of anaerobic granular sludge: Its application for m-cresol...

This study proposes a novel approach for utilizing granular sludge discharged from anaerobic reactors to prepare an effective and stable catalyst for the removal of refractory contaminants in catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO). By implementing the response surface methodology, the experimental conditions for m-cresol degradation in CWPO with a HNO₃-modified sludge carbon (GSC-M) as catalyst were explored. The removal efficiencies for m-cresol and total organic carbon (TOC) were 100% and 91.4%, respectively, at the optimal conditions of 60 °C for 120 min with a pH of 3, H₂O₂ dosage of 1.85 g/L, and catalyst dosage of 0.75 g/L. A continuous experiment was conducted for 6 d to investigate the durability and catalytic performance of GSC-M, resulting in a TOC removal above 90% with the catalyst maintaining its original morphology. GSC-M catalyst exhibited excellent stability and low iron leaching (0.34%). The high catalytic degradation could be attributed to a high content of iron species, various types of surface functional groups, porous structures, and the π-π interaction between aromatic clusters in sludge carbon and the benzene ring of m-cresol. Interestingly, GSC-M catalyst exhibited magnetic properties which are beneficial for recycling. Based on the identified intermediates, a possible degradation pathway of m-cresol was proposed.