Excess sludge biochar facilitates persulfate activation for highly efficient tetracycline removal

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Water Treatment
• Materials Science

Background:

• Metal and antibiotic pollution pose significant threats to water quality.
• Tetracycline (TC) and iron (Fe) are common water pollutants.
• Effective treatment methods for simultaneous removal are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel advanced oxidation system for simultaneous metal and antibiotic removal.
• To investigate the enhancement effect of absorbed metals on persulfate activation.
• To explore the resource utilization of sewage sludge for water remediation.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of biochar (BC) from excess sludge at 500 °C (BC500).
• Construction of a Fe/BC/persulfate (PS) advanced oxidation system.
• Investigation of TC degradation and mechanism using analytical techniques.

Main Results:

• BC500 exhibited a specific surface area of 39.712 m²/g.
• The Fe/BC/PS system achieved a 70.6% removal rate for 120 mg/L TC with 300 mg/L PS.
• Sludge biochar facilitated electron transfer and enhanced PS activation, generating more active radicals.

Conclusions:

• The Fe/BC/PS system is effective for simultaneous removal of metal and tetracycline pollution.
• Sludge-derived biochar plays a crucial role in enhancing the oxidation process.
• This approach offers a sustainable solution for wastewater treatment and sludge valorization.