Efficient activation of peroxodisulfate by novel bionic iron-encapsulated biochar: The key roles of electron transfer...

In this study, a novel iron-encapsulated biochar (Fe@BC) was prepared using the biomass cultivated with an iron-containing solution. The iron in Fe@BC showed the phase change from Fe₃O₄ to α-Fe, and to CFe_15.1, with the increase of pyrolysis temperature (500-900 °C), and a graphene shell formed on the surface of Fe@BC. In addition, the signals assigned to the π-π* shake up, pyridinic N, graphitic N, and defects of Fe@BC were found to be stronger as the pyrolysis temperature increased. The F4@B9 sample, which was prepared at 900 °C, exhibited an excellent performance (98.01 %) to activate peroxydisulfate (PDS) for the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol. Electron paramagnetic resonanceand chemical quenching experiments revealed that reactive oxygen radicals (ROS) including sulfate radical (•SO₄^-), hydroxyl radical (•OH), superoxide radical (•O₂^-), and singlet oxygen (¹O₂) existed in the F4@B9/PDS system. Furthermore, the micro-electrolysis process facilitated the generation of •O₂^- (12.35 %) and ¹O₂ (6.49 %) compared with the pure PDS system. Density functional theory revealed that, for the F4@B9-activated PDS process, the graphene shell of F4@B9 served as catalytic active sites as well. According to the correlation analysis, the iron specie of CFe_15.1 was more favorable for the generation of ROS than α-Fe. Also, π-π* shake up, pyridinic N, graphitic N, and defects participated in the PDS activation. This study provides a new method for the preparation of high-performance catalysts from naturally grown biomass with high iron contents.