Textile waste functionalized with cobalt coordination compounds as highly efficient and easily recyclable heterogeneous catalyst to activate Oxone for degradation of organic contaminants

To maximize the economic and environmental benefits of textile waste, it is imperative to explore and develop alternative "upcycling" methods. In this study, we utilized nylon fabric, which was isolated from discarded agricultural non-woven fabric, as a supporting material. We employed UV-induced graft copolymerization of acrylic acid to chelate Co2+ ions, fabricating an easy-to-prepare and easily recyclable heterogeneous metal catalyst to activate Oxone for the degradation of organic dyes. The structural and chemical properties of the catalyst were characterized by SEM, EDS, FTIR and XPS. Several impact factors, such as Oxone concentration, catalyst dosage, and reaction temperature were optimized. Under the optimal conditions of 100 mg/L Oxone, 50 mg Co@nylon and ambient temperature, Rh B was removed within 6 min and a high rate constant of 0.95 min- 1 was achieved. Based on radical trapping and quenching experiments, sulfate radicals (SO4 center dot- ) and singlet oxygen (1O2) were identified as the predominant active agents responsible for the degradation process. The recyclability and reusability of Co@nylon were confirmed through multi-cycle degradation experiments. Furthermore, nylon stockings can also be modified and utilized to treat large amounts of dye wastewater using this method.