Fe/Fe3C nanoparticles embedded in N-doped porous carbon as the heterogeneous electro-Fenton catalyst for efficient degradation of bisphenol A

Heterogeneous electro-Fenton is a promising technology for the degradation of organic contaminants. To ensure its effectiveness, it is in urgent demand to design cathode materials with the integrated capability of sufficient H2O2 generation and subsequent activation into reactive oxygen species (ROS) together with catalytic stability. Herein, a composite constituted by Fe/Fe3C nanoparticles embedded into N-doped porous carbon (NPC), designated as Fe/Fe3C@NPC, was successfully fabricated from Fe3+-loaded poly(imine dioxime) (PIDO) membrane via the thermal treatment in N2 atmosphere and employed as the heterogeneous electro-Fenton catalyst to degrade bisphenol A (BPA). By optimizing the pyrolysis temperature and loading level of iron species, the catalyst obtained at 800 degrees C (i.e. Fe/Fe3C@NPC-800) achieved almost 100% of BPA removal efficiency within 120 min via the electro-Fenton system, accompanied by 69.2% of the total organic carbon (TOC) removal rate. Furthermore, the proposed composite catalyst also exhibited satisfactory reusability and stability, as reflected by low decrease in removal efficiency after six successive degradation tests and limited iron leaching (<0.5 mg/L). This work might provide valuable instruction for the rational design of highly efficient and stable heterogeneous electro-Fenton catalysts for organic pollutant control.

Automated summary

Heterogeneous electro-Fenton technology requires cathode materials with sufficient H2O2 generation and activation capability, as well as catalytic stability. In this study, a composite catalyst Fe/Fe3C@NPC was successfully fabricated and demonstrated almost 100% bisphenol A (BPA) removal efficiency within 120 min via the electro-Fenton system. The catalyst also exhibited satisfactory reusability and stability, making it a promising candidate for organic pollutant control.