Activation mechanism of persulfate by Fe3C-based materials for efficient benzo-a-pyrene abatement in wastewater: The reversed direct electron transfer from persulfate to contaminants

Herein, an unusual reserved direct electron transfer (r-DET) process from persulfate (PS) to contaminants was observed on the surface of Fe3C with N-doped C shell supported on carbon nanotubes (Fe3C@CN-CNTs). The Fe3C-based materials were synthesized via a facile sol–gel method employing melamine, glucose, FeCl3, and commercial multi-walled CNTs. The activation mechanisms were fully explored with a comparison of Fe3C@CN-CNTs and other Fe3C-based materials for the effective abatement of benzo-a-pyrene (BaP), a typical persistent organic pollutant in industrial wastewater. Electrochemical measurements, zeta potential monitoring, and Mössbauer spectroscopy indicated that the lack of CN shell result the relatively large particle size of Fe3C on Fe3C-CNTs, leading to more negatively charged surface and abundant OH during PS activation. Nevertheless, the superparamagnetic fraction with a fine particle size on the surface of Fe3C@CN and Fe3C@CN-CNTs potentially leads to a more positively charged surface, enhancing the zeta potential of surface adsorbed BaP and benefiting the r-DET. Through r-DET, oxidized PS and reduced BaP formed as intermediates, accelerating the overall degradation of BaP in Fe3C@CN-CNTs/PS. The degradation pathways, cytotoxicity, and operation conditions of BaP degradation by Fe3C@CN-CNTs/PS were thoroughly investigated. Additionally, Fe3C@CN-CNTs were found to promote the nucleophilic reaction between Cl− and PS, producing free chlorine and enhancing BaP degradation efficiency in chloride-containing wastewater. Overall, this study presents a new insight for the PS-based r-DET process and offers a promising approach for treating organically-contaminated wastewater.