Cobalt-impregnated biochar produced from CO2-mediated pyrolysis of Co/lignin as an enhanced catalyst for activating peroxymonosulfate to degrade acetaminophen

While sulfate radical (SO4 center dot(-))-based processes are useful to degrade acetaminophen (ACE), studies of using peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to degrade ACE are quite limited. In addition, although Co is validated as the most effective metal for activating PMS, very few Co catalysts have been developed and investigated for activating PMS to degrade ACE. Since carbon is a promising substrate to support Co nanoparticles (NPs) to form Co/carbon composite catalysts, most existing carbon substrates require delicate fabrications. As biochar is an easy-to-obtain but versatile carbon material, pyrolysis of Co/lignin affords an advantageous Co-impregnated biochar (ColB) as an attractive catalyst for PMS activation. Specifically, as CO2 substitutes N-2 as a reaction medium for pyrolysis of Co/lignin, the syngas production from pyrolysis can be substantially improved and a magnetic ColB is afforded. This CoIB consists of evenly-distributed Co nanoparticles (NPs) impregnated in carbon matrices of biochar, and possesses several superior characteristics, such as high porosity, large surface area and magnetism, enabling ColB a promising catalyst for activating PMS to degrade ACE. ColB also shows a much higher catalytic activity of PMS activation than CoIB-N-2, and Co3O4 for degrading ACE. CoIB is also recyclable for activating PMS to effectively degrade ACE for multiple cycles. The ACE degradation pathway by this CoIB-activated PMS is proposed according to the degradation products. These findings validate that CoIB is assuredly an advantageous heterogeneous catalyst, which can be easily prepared from pyrolysis of Co/lignin in CO2 with concomitant enhanced syngas production for effectively activating PMS to degrade ACE. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.