Performance of L-Cu&Mn-nZVFe@B nanomaterial on nitrate selective reduction under UV irradiation and persulfate activation in the presence of oxalic acid

A novel nanomaterial (L-Cu&Mn-nZVFe@B) was synthesized and was applied to nitrate selective reduction under UV irradiation and persulfate activation in the presence of oxalic acid. Results denoted the deposition of copper could prompt the nitrate conversion and improve the nitrate conversion significantly. The high nitrate conversion was on account of the formation of galvanic cells accelerating the generation of electrons, in which Fe acted as anode and Cu acted as cathode. Meanwhile, the coexistence of Cu2O and MnO2 exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance with the obvious improvement of N-2 selectivity because of the formation of heterojunction could boost the generation of CO2 center dot-. Furthermore, the deposition of manganese could also accelerate the generation of CO2 center dot- through the activation of persulfate. The conversion of NO3- was almost 100 0/0 and the N-2 selectivity could reach 81.57 % by the S2O82-/UV/L-Cu&Mn-nZVFe@B/H2C2O4 system when the initial nitrate concentration was 100 mg /L, the L-Cu&Mn-nZVFe@B dosage was 6.0 g/L, the H2C2O4 dosage was 15 mmol/L, pH was 5.0, the reaction time was 100 min under 25 degrees C. Research provides an alternative approach for selective reduction nitrate into nitrogen.

Automated summary

A novel nanomaterial was synthesized and applied to selective reduction of nitrate, showing significant improvement in nitrate conversion under UV irradiation and persulfate activation in the presence of oxalic acid. The high nitrate conversion was attributed to the formation of galvanic cells accelerating the generation of electrons. Additionally, the coexistence of Cu2O and MnO2 exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance, leading to high N-2 selectivity and efficient CO2 generation.