Highly-efficient degradation of Ensulizole using monopersulfate activated by nanostructured cobalt oxide: a comparative study on effects of different nanostructures

Liu, W.-J., Park, Y.-K., Chen, W.-H., Bui, H. M., Munagapati, V. S., Tuan, D. D., Wen, J.-C., You, S. , Oh, W. D. and Lin, K.-Y. A. (2022) Highly-efficient degradation of Ensulizole using monopersulfate activated by nanostructured cobalt oxide: a comparative study on effects of different nanostructures. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 10(2), 107137. (doi: 10.1016/j.jece.2022.107137)

Abstract

The most extensively used sunscreen protecting agent, Ensulizole, has been proven to exhibit hormone disrupting effects. To establish efficient processes to destruct Ensulizole in water, SO4•−-involved advanced oxidation processes using monopersulfate (MPS) seem useful. Since cobalt (Co) is the most capable of metal for activating MPS, Co3O4 appears as a promising heterogeneous catalyst for activating MPS to degrade Ensulizole. As catalytic activities of metal oxide catalysts are strongly associated with their morphologies, and surficial properties, nanoscale Co3O4 with functional nanostructures would be expected as advantageous catalysts for activating MPS. Therefore, three Co3O4 materials with distinct nanostructures and shapes were fabricated in this study, including Co3O4 cone ball (COCB), Co3O4 plate lump (COPL), and Co3O4 needle sheaf (CONS). Their surficial properties are also noticeably distinct with different fractions of Co2+, and Co3+, various oxygen vacancies, textural features and surface defects. Through comparing these three nanostructured Co3O4 for activating MPS to degrade Ensulizole, CONS exhibits the tremendously higher catalytic activity than COCB and COPL for activating MPS to eliminate Ensulizole completely and rapidly. The Ea value of Ensulizole degradation of CONS is also significantly low as 9.8 kJ/mol, which is the lowest Ea ever reported in literatures. CONS could also retain its catalytic activities over 5 continuous cycles to rapidly degrade Ensulizole. The activation mechanism of MPS by CONS and Ensulizole degradation pathway are also comprehensively elucidated via experimental evidences and the theoretical calculation to offer insightful information of development of Co-based heterogeneous catalysts for Ensulizole degradation.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: You, Dr Siming

Creator Roles

You, S.: Writing – review and editing

• Authors: Liu, W.-J., Park, Y.-K., Chen, W.-H., Bui, H. M., Munagapati, V. S., Tuan, D. D., Wen, J.-C., You, S., Oh, W. D., and Lin, K.-Y. A.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
• Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 2213-2929
• ISSN (Online): 2213-3437
• Published Online: 04 January 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd.
• First Published: First published in Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 10(2): 107137
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy