Oxidative degradation of tetracycline using peroxymonosulfate activated by cobalt-doped pomelo peel carbon composite

Tetracycline (TC) is a typical ecotoxic antibiotic, which easily causes bacterial resistance. Therefore, it is necessary to remove TC from the water environment. In recent years, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) rely on the use of highly reactive oxidizing sulfate radical which is turning into an increasingly popular as a tool of the removal of TC. In this study, cobalt-doped pomelo peel carbon composite (Co-PPCC) was prepared by the impregnation coprecipitation method to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to remove TC. SEM, BET, XRD, FTIR, XPS, TGA, and other analytical techniques indicated that a carbon composite catalyst with excellent performance has been successfully prepared. TC was removed by the synergistic effect of adsorption and catalytic degradation processes. The adsorption capacity was limited (only approximately 20% within 60 min) and tending to saturation, which indicated that the removal of TC in the Co-PPCC/PMS system was mainly due to oxidative degradation. The influence of the Co-PPCC and PMS dosage, initial TC concentration, initial pH values, and coexisting anions on the removal efficiency of TC was investigated. When the Co-PPCC catalyst dosage was 1 g/L, PMS concentration was 2 g/L, and pH value was 11, the removal efficiency of TC with a concentration of 50 mg/L reached 99% within 60 min. Free radical quenching experiment and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis indicated that the free radical and non-radical degradation processes exist in the Co-PPCC/PMS/TC system. The main degradation products and the possible transformation pathways of TC were explored by LC-MS. In addition, after four cycles of Co-PPCC tests, the removal efficiency of TC can reach 64%. This study provides a new method to reuse abandoned pomelo peels and synthesize an economical and environmentally friendly catalyst for activating peroxymonosulfate to remove TC antibiotics in water.