Development of non-photolytic, metal-free catalysts for degrading water pollutants in the presence of a suitable bulk oxidant is desirable to conserve energy and avoid secondary contamination by metals. A nitrogen- and oxygen-doped carbonaceous material (NOCM) was prepared at elevated temperature from readily-available precursors and shown to have high catalytic activity for degrading various phenolic compounds by aqueous peroxymonosulfate (HSO<sub>5</sub><sup>−</sup>, PMS) in the dark. The compounds include 4-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and bisphenol-A. An experiment with 2,4-dichlorophenol showed complete removal with as little as 0.03 g/L catalyst and even at a PMS-to-compound molar ratio close to 1. Hydroxyl and sulfate radicals in bulk solution and singlet oxygen played only minor roles, at most, based on the results of scavenging and other experiments. Added alone to the NOCM, PMS did not adsorb but decomposed slowly, whereas the organic showed adsorption but no degradation. PMS was unreactive In the absence of NOCM over the experimental timeframe. Taken together the results indicate that organic compound oxidation by PMS in these systems is surface-mediated.

Oxidation of organic compounds by peroxymonosulfate catalyzed by a N,O-doped carbonaceous material

2019 Fall National Meeting

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