Efficient degradation of drug ibuprofen through catalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate by Fe_3C embedded on carbon

Ibuprofen(IBU),a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug,is becoming an important member of pharmaceuticals and personal care products(PPCPs)as emerging pollutants.To degrade IBU,magnetic Fe_3C nanoparticles embedded on N-doped carbon(Fe_3C/NC)were prepared as a catalyst by a sol–gel combustion method.As characterized,the Fe_3C/NC nanoparticles were composed of a NC nano-sheet and capsulated Fe_3C particles on the sheet.The Fe_3C/NC nanoparticles were confirmed an efficient catalyst for peroxymonosulfate(PMS)activation to generate sulfate radicals(SO_4^(·-)),single oxygen(~1O_2)and hydroxyl radicals(·OH)toward the degradation of IBU.The added IBU(10 mg/L)was almost completely removed in 30 min by using 0.1 g/L Fe_3C/NC and 2 g/L PMS.The catalyst was confirmed to have good ability and excellent reusability through leaching measurements and cycle experiments.A catalytic mechanism was proposed for the catalytic activation of PMS on Fe_3C/NC,which involves both Fe_3C reactive sites and N-doped carbon matrix as reactive sites in Fe_3C/NC.Moreover,the degradation pathway of IBU in the Fe_3C/NC-PMS system was proposed according to the detections of degradation intermediates.