Enhanced activation of peroxymonosulfate by CNT-TiO₂ under UV-light assistance for efficient degradation of organic pollutants

Abstract

CNT-TiO₂ composite is used to activate PMS under UV-light assistance.

Superior performance is due to the enhanced electron-transfer ability of CNT.

SO₄•⁻, •OH and ¹O₂ play key roles in the degradation of organic pollutants.

In this work, a UV-light assisted peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation system was constructed with the composite catalyst of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) - titanium dioxide (TiO₂). Under the UV light irradiation, the photoinduced electrons generated from TiO₂ could be continuously transferred to CNT for the activation of PMS to improve the catalytic performance of organic pollutant degradation. Meanwhile, the separation of photoinduced electron-hole pairs could enhance the photocatalysis efficiency. The electron spin resonance spectroscopy (EPR) and quenching experiments confirmed the generation of sulfate radical (SO₄•⁻), hydroxyl radical (•OH) and singlet oxygen (¹O₂) in the UV/PMS/20%CNT-TiO₂ system. Almost 100% phenol degradation was observed within 20 min UV-light irradiation. The kinetic reaction rate constant of the UV/PMS/20%CNT-TiO₂ system (0.18 min⁻¹) was 23.7 times higher than that of the PMS/Co₃O₄ system (0.0076 min⁻¹). This higher catalytic performance was ascribed to the introduction of photoinduced electrons, which could enhance the activation of PMS by the transfer of electrons in the UV/PMS/CNT-TiO₂ system.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Peroxymonosulfate activation / Carbon nanotubes / TiO ₂ / Water treatment

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