Abstract
Sulfate radicals (SO4·−) are highly efficient for the degradation organic pollutants. SO4·− can be produced by activation of sulfites, yet actual heterogeneous activators exhibit a lower reactivity for activation of sulfite to SO4·− at pH 7.0–8.0. Here we hypothesized that zero-valent copper can activate sulfite under mild conditions. We tested the reaction with iohexol, diatrizoate, atrazine, benzoic acid, and p-chlorobenzoic acid contaminants. Reactive radicals were identified by electron paramagnetic resonance, fluorescence spectrometry, and radical scavenging experiments. Results show up to 90% abatement of contaminants by combining sulfite with zero-valent copper at pH 8.0. Moreover, zero-valent copper maintains a crystalline stability and satisfactory reusability with iohexol abatement efficiency up to 80% after five runs.
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This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51808233).
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Zhao, X., Wu, Y., Xing, D. et al. Enhanced abatement of organic contaminants by zero-valent copper and sulfite. Environ Chem Lett 18, 237–241 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-019-00928-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-019-00928-3