MOF-derived Fe/Ni@C marigold-like nanosheets as heterogeneous electro-Fenton cathode for efficient antibiotic oxytetracycline degradation

The widespread occurrence of organic antibiotic pollution in the environment and the associated harmful effects necessitate effective treatment method. Heterogeneous electro-Fenton (hetero-EF) has been regarded as one of the most promising techniques towards organic pollutant removal. However, the preparation of efficient cathode still remains challenging. Herein, a novel metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived Fe/Ni@C marigold-like nanosheets were fabricated successfully for the degradation of oxytetracycline (OTC) by serving as the hetero-EF cathode. The FeNi3@C (Fe/Ni molar ratio of 1:3) based hetero-EF system exhibited 8.2 times faster OTC removal rate than that of anodic oxidation and possessed many advantages such as excellent OTC degradation efficiency (95.4% within 90 min), broad environmental adaptability (satisfactory treatment performance for multiple antibiotics under various actual water matrixes), good stability and reusability, and significant toxicity reduction. The superior hetero-EF catalytic performance was mainly attributed to: 1) porous carbon and Ni existence were both conducive to the in-situ generation of H2O2 from dissolved O2; 2) the synergistic effects of bimetals together with electron transfer from the cathode promoted the regeneration of ≡ FeII/NiII, thereby accelerating the production of reactive oxygen species; 3) the unique nanosheet structure derived from the precursor two-dimensional Fe-Ni MOFs enhanced the accessibility of active sites. This work presented a promising hetero-EF cathode for the electrocatalytic treatment of antibiotic-containing wastewaters.

Pb(II) Adsorption of Composite Alginate Beads Containing Mesoporous Natural Zeolite

Natural zeolite beads were prepared by encapsulating mesoporous zeolite into alginate beads via egg box method and its adsorption properties of Pb(II) ions were investigated in aqueous solution. Crystallinity and size reduction of natural zeolite were enhanced by mechanic modification of the ball milling process. FTIR and SEM-EDS analyses confirmed that mechanically modified zeolite particles were incorporated into alginate hydrogel. The highest adsorption amount of zeolite alginate beads was 87.47 mg/g after 20 h adsorption process. SEM-EDS result confirmed that the adsorption process has occurred on the surface of zeolite alginate beads. Adsorption kinetic data were fitted with Langmuir adsorption isotherm which showed that Pb²⁺ cation adsorbed into monolayers of adsorbent material. Moreover, we observed that calcium ion released after the Pb²⁺ adsorption process in the feed solution. Therefore, the adsorption mechanism of zeolite alginate beads explained by complex mechanisms including surface sorption and ion exchange of Pb²⁺ and Ca²⁺ in beads.