Co78Si8B14 metallic glass: A highly efficient and ultra-sustainable Fenton-like catalyst in degrading wastewater under universal pH conditions

Overcoming the pH limitation and increasing the catalyst reusability remain pressing demands for metallic glass (MG) in wastewater remediation. Herein, Co(78)Si(8)B(14)( )MG ribbons are used to degrade dye wastewater by activating hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as Fenton-like catalysts. The Co-based MG catalysts exhibit high degradation efficiency under both acidic and alkaline conditions, and the kinetic reaction rate at pH 10 (0.176 mM(-1)) and pH 4 (0.089 mM(-1)) is 5.9 and 1.2 times higher than that of the extensively studied Fe-based MG catalysts, respectively. Impressively, the Co-based MG catalysts can be reused up to 20-60 times at universal pH conditions, demonstrating fairly good reusability. The newly discovered Co-based MG catalysts do not follow the classical Fenton reactions with H2O2 the way Fe-based MGs do. In an acid environment, hydroxyl radicals play a dominant role in the degradation, while in an alkaline environment, the effect of hydroxyl radicals is weakened, and Co3+ ions exert a relatively major function on the degradation. The excellent performance in catalytic activity and reusability at universal pH conditions of the Co-based MGs will inspire the development of MGs in wastewater treatment. (C) 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology.

Automated summary

Co-based metallic glass catalysts exhibit high degradation efficiency under both acidic and alkaline conditions, with the ability to be reused multiple times at universal pH conditions. They deviate from the classical Fenton reactions and show promising potential for wastewater treatment.