Nitrogen-doped metal-free granular activated carbons as economical and easily separable catalysts for peroxymonosulfate and hydrogen peroxide activation to degrade bisphenol A

The fabrication of low-cost, highly efficient, environmentally friendly, and easily separable metal-free heterogeneous catalysts for environmental remediation remains a challenge. In this study, granular nitrogen-doped highly developed porous carbons with a particle size of 0.25-0.30 mm were prepared by preoxidation and subsequent NH3 modification of a commercially available coconut-based activated carbon, and used to activate peroxymonosulphate (KHSO5) or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to degrade bisphenol A (BPA). The nitrogen-doped carbon (ACON-950) prepared by NH3 modification at 950 °C, with the addition of only 0.15 g/L could remove 100% of 50 mg/L BPA in 150 min, and more than 90% of the removed BPA was due to degradation. The removal rates of total organic carbon of ACON-950/KHSO5 and ACON-950/H2O2 systems reached 60.4% and 66.2% respectively, indicating the excellent catalytic activity of ACON-950. The reaction rate constant was significantly positively correlated with the absolute content of pyridinic N (N-6) and graphitic N (N-Q) and negatively and weakly positively correlated with pyrrolic N (N-5) and defects. Quenching experiments combined with electron paramagnetic resonance demonstrated that singlet oxygen was the dominant reactive oxidative species for BPA degradation. ACON-950 was characterized before and after the degradation reaction using N2 adsorption-desorption analyzer, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results confirmed the prominent contribution of both the N-6 and N-Q to the catalytic performance of nitrogen-doped carbons. The reusability of ACON-950 and its application in actual water bodies further demonstrated its remarkable potential for the remediation of organic pollutants in wastewater.