Highly efficient removal of tetracycline hydrochloride by CuNi-C MOF: Activation of oxygen via radical and non-radical pathways

This work successfully synthesized an outstanding catalyst with high surface area and Cu(0) particles encap-sulated in the hierarchically mesoporous structure (CuNi-C), via the pyrolysis of metal organic frameworks (MOFs). CuNi-C exhibited high efficiency for adsorption and great catalytic performance for the oxidative degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) by activating the dissolved oxygen (DO) with wide pH adaptation (3-10), as well as great recycled performance. It was confirmed by the effect of inorganic anions, quenching experiments, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technology, and electrochemical tests (CV, LSV and OCP) that the outstanding oxidative effectiveness of the CuNi-C/Air system was the credit of the radical (center dot O-2(-)) and non-radical pathways (mediated electron transfer). Characterizations including HRTEM, HAADF-STEM, XPS and FTIR indicated that the Cu(0) particles encapsulated in the outer graphitic carbon, could transform DO to center dot O-2(-) and H2O2. It was also proposed that the N, O-doped graphitic carbon framework provided the main active sites (-OH group, graphitic N and pyridinic N) as the powerful platform for stabilizing oxygen and TC on the CuNi-C surface, which was a key step for non-radical process to initiate the electron transfer. Overall, this work provides a facile and efficient method for organic pollutants decomposition.

Automated summary

This work successfully synthesized a catalyst with high surface area and Cu(0) particles encapsulated in a hierarchically mesoporous structure. The catalyst exhibited high efficiency for adsorption and degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride, with wide pH adaptation and great recycled performance. The oxidative effectiveness was due to both radical and non-radical pathways.