Performance and mechanism of FeS₂/FeS_xO_y as highly effective Fenton-like catalyst for phenol degradation

ABSTRACT

Developing a highly efficient Fenton-like catalyst working in a wide pH range is imperative to accomplish its practical wastewater treatment. Herein, FeS₂/FeS_xO_y catalyst was synthesized by hydrothermal-solvothermal vulcanization with thioacetamide as a sulfur source. Characterization results confirmed FeS₂/FeS_xO_y consisted of pyrite, kornelite, and szomolnokite. FeS₂/FeS_xO_y exhibited superior catalytic activity toward H₂O₂ activation with more than 96% phenol removal within 5 min in pH 3.0 ∼ 8.0 at 30°C. Radical scavenging experiment and EPR analysis revealed both hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and superoxide anion radicals (O₂·^-) anticipated in phenol elimination, but ·OH played a dominant role. The detailed degradation experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculation confirmed the vital role of FeS₂ in enhancing phenol abatement. This study not only developed a highly active catalyst for H₂O₂ activation but also theoretically analyzed the FeS₂ function in depth, which provided a guide for designing a highly efficient Fenton-like catalyst.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Fenton-like
• FeS₂/FeS_xO_y
• phenol degradation
• degradation mechanism
• wastewater treatment

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 21906008]; General project of Chongqing Natural Science Foundation [grant number cstc2021jcyj-msxmX0787]; Open Project of State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment of Harbin Institute of Technology [grant number HCK202115]; Science and Technology Research Program of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission [grant number KJQN201901415,KJQN201901420,KJQN202001413].