Bicarbonate activated hydrogen peroxide with cobalt nanoparticles embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes for highly efficient organic dye degradation

The bicarbonate-activated hydrogen peroxide (BAP) with heterogeneous catalysts has been demonstrated to have a good future for organic pollutants removal in wastewater treatment. Herein, a novel catalyst, cobalt nanoparticles encapsulated in nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (Co@NC) was prepared by pyrolysis of Co salt and melamine, followed by acid treatment to remove excess metallic cobalt. Combining the hollow carbon nanotube structure and Co nanoparticles, the Co@NC offers excellent catalytic performance for acid orange 7 degradation in the BAP system. High stability against cobalt ions leaching from the Co@NC was observed, which is superior to the previously reported heterogeneous catalysts center dot H2O2 activation mechanism by Co@NC catalyst was also proposed, in which superoxide ion and single oxygen are the dominant reactive species from H2O2 decomposition by the synergistic effect of Co(0) and N species.

Automated summary

The cobalt nanoparticles encapsulated in nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes, as a novel catalyst, showed excellent catalytic performance for acid orange 7 degradation in the bicarbonate-activated hydrogen peroxide system. It exhibited high stability against cobalt ions leaching and proposed a activation mechanism with superoxide ion and single oxygen as the dominant reactive species from H2O2 decomposition by the synergistic effect of Co(0) and N species.