Application of CoMn/CoFe layered double hydroxide based on metal-organic frameworks template to activate peroxymonosulfate for 2, 4-dichlorophenol degradation

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have unique properties and stable structure, which have been widely used as templates/precursors to prepare well-developed pore structure and high specific surface area materials. In this article, an innovative and facile method of crystal reorganization was designed by using MOFs as sacrificial templates to prepare LDH nano-layer sheet structure through a pseudomorphic conversion process under alkaline conditions. The obtained CoMn-LDH and CoFe-LDH catalysts broke the ligand of MOFs and reorganized the structure on the basis of retaining a high specific surface area and a large number of pores, which have higher specific surface area and well-developed pore structure than LDH catalysts prepared by traditional methods, and thus provide more active sites to activate PMS. Due to the unique framework structure of MOFs, the MOF derived CoMn-LDH and CoFe-LDH catalysts could provide more active sites to activate PMS, and achieve a 2, 4-dichlorophenol (2, 4-DCP) degradation of 99.3% and 99.2% within 20 min, respectively. Besides, the two LDH catalysts displayed excellent degradation performance for bisphenol A (BPA), ciprofloxacin (CIP) and 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D). XPS indicated that the valence state transformation of metal elements participated in PMS activation. EPR manifested sulfate radical (SO4 center dot-) and singlet oxygen (O-1(2)) were the main species for degrading pollutants. In addition, after the three-cycle experiment, the CoMn-LDH and CoFe-LDH catalysts also showed long-term stability with a slight activity decrease in the third cycle. The phytotoxicity assessment determined by the germination of mung beans proved that PMS activation by MOFs-derived LDH catalyst can basically eliminate the phytotoxicity of 2, 4-D solution. This research not only developed high-activity LDH catalysts for PMS activation, but also expanded the environmental applications of MOFs derivants.

Automated summary

MOFs-derived LDH catalysts demonstrate high activity and long-term stability in PMS activation, efficiently degrading organic pollutants within a short period of time, showcasing the potential for a wide range of environmental applications.