Inhibition of protein degradation increases the Bt protein concentration in Bt cotton

Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt)cotton production is challenged by two main problems,i.e.,the low concentration of Bt protein at the boll setting stage and the lowest insect resistance in bolls among all the cotton plant’s organs.Therefore,increasing the Bt protein concentration at the boll stage,especially in bolls,has become the main goal for increasing insect resistance in cotton.In this study,two protein degradation inhibitors(ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid(EDTA)and leupeptin)were sprayed on the bolls,subtending leaves,and whole cotton plants at the peak flowering stage of two Bt cultivars(medium maturation Sikang 1(SK1))and early maturation Zhongmian 425(ZM425)in 2019 and 2020.The Bt protein content and protein degradation metabolism were assessed.The results showed that the Bt protein concentrations were enhanced by 21.3 to 38.8%and 25.0 to 38.6%in the treated bolls of SK1 and ZM425 respectively,while they were decreased in the subtending leaves of these treated bolls.In the treated leaves,the Bt protein concentrations increased by 7.6 to 23.5%and 11.2 to 14.9%in SK1 and ZM425,respectively.The combined application of EDTA and leupeptin to the whole cotton plant increased the Bt protein concentrations in both bolls and subtending leaves.The Bt protein concentrations in bolls were higher,increasing by 22.5 to 31.0%and 19.6 to 32.5%for SK1 and ZM425,respectively.The organs treated with EDTA or/and leupeptin showed reduced free amino acid contents,protease and peptidase activities and significant enhancements in soluble protein contents.These results indicated that inhibiting protein degradation could improve the protein content,thus increasing the Bt protein concentrations in the bolls or/and leaves of cotton plants.Therefore,the increase in the Bt protein concentration without yield reduction suggested that these two protein degradation inhibitors may be applicable for improving insect resistance in cotton production.

Microbial Degradation of Organic Contaminants in Streambed/Floodplain Sediments in Passaic River—New Jersey Area

This paper is intended to explore soil organic matter and carbon isotope fractionation at three locations of the Passaic River to determine if microbial degradation of organic contaminants in soil is correlated to the surrounding physical environment. Microbial degradation of organic contaminants is important for the detoxification of toxic substances thereby minimizing stagnation in the environment and accumulating in the food chain. Since organic contaminants are not easily dissolved in water, they will penetrate sediment and end up enriching the adjacent soil. The hypothesis that we are testing is microbial activity and carbon isotope fractionation will be greater in preserved soils than urban soils. The reason why this is expected to be the case is the expectation of higher microbial activity in preserved environments due to less exposure to pollutants, better soil structure, higher organic matter content, and more favorable conditions for microbial growth. This is contrasted with urban soils, which are impacted by pollutants and disturbances, potentially inhibiting microbial activity. We wish to collect soil samples adjacent to the Passaic River at a pristine location, Great Swamp Wildlife Refuge, a suburban location, Goffle Brook Park, Hawthorne NJ, and an urban location, Paterson NJ. These soil samples will be weighed for soil organic matter (SOM) and weighed for isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) to test organic carbon isotopes. High SOM and δ13C depletion activity indicate microbial growth based on the characteristics of the soil horizon rather than the location of the soil sample which results in degradation of organic compounds.

Photocatalytic Degradation of Plastic Waste: Recent Progress and Future Perspectives

Microplastics are persistent anthropogenic pollutants that have become a global concern due to their widespread distribution and unfamiliar threat to the environment and living organisms. Conventional technologies are unable to fully decompose and mineralize plastic waste. Therefore, there is a need to develop an environmentally friendly, innovative and sustainable photocatalytic process that can destroy these wastes with much less energy and chemical consumption. In photocatalysis, various nanomaterials based on wide energy band gap semiconductors such as TiO2 and ZnO are used for the conversion of plastic contaminants into environmentally friendly compounds. In this work, the removal of plastic fragments by photocatalytic reactions using newly developed photocatalytic composites and the mechanism of photocatalytic degradation of microplastics are systematically investigated. In these degradation processes, sunlight or an artificial light source is used to activate the photocatalyst in the presence of oxygen.

Molecular Dynamics-Based Simulation of Polyethylene Pipe Degradation in High Temperature and High Pressure Conditions

High-density polyethylene(HDPE)pipes have gradually become the first choice for gas networks because of their excellent characteristics.As the use of pipes increases,there will unavoidably be a significant amount of waste generated when the pipes cease their operation life,which,if improperly handled,might result in major environmental contamination issues.In this study,the thermal degradation of polyethylene materials is simulated for different pressures(10,50,100,and 150 MPa)and temperatures(2300,2500,2700,and 2900 K)in the framework of Reactive Force Field(ReaxFF)molecular dynamics simulation.The main gas products,density,energy,and the mean square displacement with temperature and pressure are also calculated.The findings indicate that raising the temperature leads to an increase in the production of gas products,while changing the pressure has an impact on the direction in which the products are generated;the faster the temperature drops,the less dense the air;both temperature and pressure increase impact the system’s energy conversion or distribution mechanism,changing the system’s potential energy as well as its total energy;the rate at which molecules diffuse increases with temperature,and decreases with pressure.The results of this investigation provide a theoretical basis for the development of the pyrolytic treatment of polyethylene waste materials.

Defect mediated losses and degradation of perovskite solar cells:Origin impacts and reliable characterization techniques

The rapid advancement of halide-based hybrid perovskite materials has garnered significant research attention,particularly in the domain of photovoltaic technology.Owing to their exceptional optoelec-tronic properties,they demonstrated power conversion efficiency(PcE)of over 25%in single junction solar cells.Despite the notable progress in PCE over the past decade,the inherent high defect density pre-senting in perovskite materials gives rise to several loss mechanisms and associated ion migration in per-ovskite solar cells(PsCs)during operational conditions.These factors collectively contribute to a significant stability challenge in PsCs,placing their longevity far behind for commercialization.While numerous reports have explored defects,ion migration,and their impacts on device performance,a com-prehensive correlation between the types of defects and the degradation kinetics of perovskite materials and PsCs has been lacking.In this context,this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the origins of defects and ion migration,emphasizing their correlation with the degradation kinetics of per-ovskite materials and PsCs,leveraging reliable characterization techniques.Furthermore,these charac-terization techniques are intended to comprehend loss mechanisms by different passivation approaches to enhance the durability and PCE of PSCs.

Equivalent linear model for seismic damage evaluation of single-degree-of-freedom systems representing reinforced concrete structures considering cyclic degradation behavior

In this study,a novel equivalent damping ratio model that is suitable for reinforced concrete(RC)structures considering cyclic degradation behavior is developed,and a new equivalent linearization analysis method for implementing the proposed equivalent damping ratio model for use in seismic damage evaluation is presented.To this end,Ibarra’s peak-oriented model,which incorporates an energy-based degradation rule,is selected for representing hysteretic behavior of RC structure,and the optimized equivalent damping for predicting the maximum displacement response is presented by using the empirical method,in which the effect of cyclic degradation is considered.Moreover,the relationship between the hysteretic energy dissipation of the inelastic system and the elastic strain energy of the equivalent linear system is established so that the proposed equivalent linear system can be directly integrated with the Park-Ang seismic model to implement seismic damage evaluation.Due to the simplicity of the equivalent linearization method,the proposed method provides an efficient and reliable way of obtaining comprehensive insight into the seismic performance of RC structures.The verification demonstrates the validity of the proposed method.

Facilitated Prediction of Micropollutant Degradation via UV-AOPs in Various Waters by Combining Model Simulation and Portable Measurement

The degradation of micropollutants in water via ultraviolet(UV)-based advanced oxidation processes(AOPs)is strongly dependent on the water matrix.Various reactive radicals(RRs)formed in UV-AOPs have different reaction selectivities toward water matrices and degradation efficiencies for target micropollutants.Hence,process selection and optimization are crucial.This study developed a facilitated prediction method for the photon fluence-based rate constant for micropollutant degradation(K′_(p,MP))in various UV-AOPs by combining model simulation with portable measurement.Portable methods for measuring the scavenging capacities of the principal RRs(RRSCs)involved in UV-AOPs(i.e.,HO^(·),SO_(4)^(·-),and Cl^(·))using a mini-fluidic photoreaction system were proposed.The simulation models consisted of photochemical,quantitative structure–activity relationship,and radical concentration steady-state approximation models.The RRSCs were determined in eight test waters,and a higher RRSC was found to be associated with a more complex water matrix.Then,by taking sulfamethazine,caffeine,and carbamazepine as model micropollutants,the k′_(p,MP) values in various UV-AOPs were predicted and further verified experimentally.A lower k′_(p,MP) was found to be associated with a higher RRSC for a stronger RR competition;for example,k′_(p,MP) values of 130.9 and 332.5 m^(2) einstein^(–1),respectively,were obtained for carbamazepine degradation by UV/H_(2)O_(2) in the raw water(RRSC=9.47×10^(4) s^(-1))and sand-filtered effluent(RRSC=2.87×10^(4) s^(-1))of a drinking water treatment plant.The developed method facilitates process selection and optimization for UV-AOPs,which is essential for increasing the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of water treatment.

Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue over MIL-100(Fe)/GO composites: a performance and kinetic study

Adsorption coupled with photocatalytic degradation is proposed to fulfill the removal and thorough elimination of organic dyes.Herein,we report a facile hydrothermal synthesis of MIL-100(Fe)/GO photocatalysts.The adsorption and photocatalytic degradation process of methylene blue(MB)on MIL‐100(Fe)/GO composites were systematically studied from performance and kinetic perspectives.A possible adsorption‐photocatalytic degradation mechanism is proposed.The optimized 1M8G composite achieves 95%MB removal(60.8 mg/g)in 210 min and displays well recyclability over ten cycles.The obtained MB adsorption and degradation results are well fitted onto Langmuir isotherm and pseudo‐second order kinetic model.This study shed light on the design of MOFs based composites for water treatment.

Hydrodynamic Cavitation Enhanced SR-Aops Degradation of Organic Pollutants in Water:A Review

SR-AOP(sulfate radical advanced oxidation process)is a novel water treatment method able to eliminate refractory organic pollutants.Hydrodynamic cavitation(HC)is a novel green technology,that can effectively produce strong oxidizing sulfate radicals.This paper presents a comprehensive review of the research advancements in these fields and a critical discussion of the principal factors influencing HC-enhanced SR-AOP and the mechanisms of synergistic degradation.Furthermore,some insights into the industrial application of HC/PS are also provided.Current research shows that this technology is feasible at the laboratory stage,but its application on larger scales requires further understanding and exploration.In this review,some attention is also paid to the design of the hydrodynamic cavitation reactor and the related operating parameters.

Interface and mechanical degradation mechanisms of the silicon anode in sulfide-based solid-state batteries at high temperatures

Silicon(Si)is a competitive anode material owing to its high theoretical capacity and low electrochemical potential.Recently,the prospect of Si anodes in solid-state batteries(SSBs)has been proposed due to less solid electrolyte interphase(SEI)formation and particle pulverization.However,major challenges arise for Si anodes in SSBs at elevated temperatures.In this work,the failure mechanisms of Si-Li_(6)PS_(5)Cl(LPSC)composite anodes above 80℃are thoroughly investigated from the perspectives of interface stability and(electro)chemo-mechanical effect.The chemistry and growth kinetics of Lix Si|LPSC interphase are demonstrated by combining electrochemical,chemical and computational characterizations.Si and/or Si–P compound formed at Lix Si|LPSC interface prove to be detrimental to interface stability at high temperatures.On the other hand,excessive volume expansion and local stress caused by Si lithiation at high temperatures damage the mechanical structure of Si-LPSC composite anodes.This work elucidates the behavior and failure mechanisms of Si-based anodes in SSBs at high temperatures and provides insights into upgrading Si-based anodes for application in SSBs.

The deteriorated degradation resistance of Mg alloy microtubes for vascular stent under the coupling effect of radial compressive stress and dynamic medium

The degradation of Mg alloys relates to the service performance of Mg alloy biodegradable implants.In order to investigate the degradation behavior of Mg alloys as vascular stent materials in the near service environment,the hot-extruded fine-grained Mg-Zn-Y-Nd alloy microtubes,which are employed to manufacture vascular stents,were tested under radial compressive stress in the dynamic Hanks'Balanced Salt Solution(HBSS).The results revealed that the high flow rate accelerates the degradation of Mg alloy microtubes and its degradation is sensitive to radial compressive stress.These results contribute to understanding the service performance of Mg alloys as vascular stent materials.

Achieving high-efficient photocatalytic persulfate-activated degradation of tetracycline via carbon dots modified MIL-101(Fe)octahedrons

The synergistic reaction of photocatalysis and advanced oxidation is a valid strategy for the degradation of harmful antibiotic wastewater.Herein,carbon dots(CDs)modified MIL-101(Fe)octahedrons to form CDs/MIL-101(Fe)composite photocatalyst was synthesized for visible light-driven photocatalytic/persulfate(PS)-activated tetracycline(TC)degradation.The electron spin resonance(ESR)spectra,scavenging experiment and electrochemical analysis were carried out to reveal that the high visible light-driven photocatalytic degradation activity of TC over CDs/MIL-101(Fe)photocatalysts is not only ascribed to the production of free active radicals in the CDs/MIL-101(Fe)/PS system(·OH,·SO_(4-),^(1)O_(2),h^(+)and·O_(2)^(-))but also attributed to the consumption of electrons caused by the PS,which can suppress the recombination of photo-generated carriers as well as strong light scattering and electron trapping effects of CDs.Finally,the possible degradation pathways were proposed by analyzing intermediates via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry technique.This research presents a rational design conception to construct a CDs/PS-based photocatalysis/advanced oxidation technology with high-efficient degradation activity for the remediation of organic antibiotic pollutant wastewater and for the improvement of carrier transport kinetics of photocatalysts.

Experimental study on the effect of H_(2)O and O_(2) on the degradation of SF_(6) by pulsed dielectric barrier discharge

SF_(6) has excellent insulation performance and arc extinguishing ability,and is widely used in the power industry.However,its global warming potential is about 23,500 times that of C0_(2),it can exist stably in the atmosphere,it is not easily degradable and is of great potential harm to the environment.Based on pulsed dielectric barrier discharge plasma technology,the effects of H_(2)O and 0_(2) on the degradation of SF_(6) were studied.Studies have shown that H_(2)O can effectively promote the decomposition of SF_(6) and improve its degradation rate and energy efficiency of degradation.Under the action of a pulse input voltage and input frequency of 15 kV and 15 kHz,respectively,when H_(2)O is added alone the effect of 1% H_(2)O is the best,and the rate and energy efficiency of degradation of SF_(6) reach their maximum values,which are 91.9% and 8.25 g kWh^(-1),respectively.The synergistic effect of H_(2)O and O_(2) on the degradation of SF_(6) was similar to that of H_(2)O.When the concentration of H_(2)O and O_(2) was 1%,the system obtained the best rate and energy efficiency of degradation,namely 89.7% and 8.05 g kWh~(-1),respectively.At the same time,different external gases exhibit different capabilities to regulate decomposition products.The addition of H_(2)O can effectively improve the selectivity of S0_(2).Under the synergistic effect of H_(2)O and O_(2),with increase in O_(2) concentration the degradation products gradually transformed into SO_(2)F_(2).From the perspective of harmless treatment of the degradation products of SF_(6),the addition of O_(2) during the SF_(6) degradation process should be avoided.

Single flow treatment degradation of antibiotics in water using falling-film dielectric barrier discharge

The environmental contamination caused by antibiotics is increasingly conspicuous due to their widespread manufacture and misuse. Plasma has been employed in recent years for the remediation of antibiotic pollution in the environment. In this work, a falling-film dielectric barrier discharge was used to degrade the antibiotic tetracycline(TC) in water. The reactor combined the gas-liquid discharge and active gas bubbling to improve the TC degradation performance. The discharge characteristics, chemical species’ concentration, and degradation rates at different parameters were systematically studied. Under the optimized conditions(working gas was pure oxygen, liquid flow rate was 100 mL/min, gas flow rate was 1 L/min,voltage was 20 kV, single treatment), TC was removed beyond 70% in a single flow treatment with an energy efficiency of 145 mg/(kW·h). The reactor design facilitated gas and liquid flow in the plasma area to produce more ozone in bubbles after a single flow under pure oxygen conditions, affording fast TC degradation. Furthermore, long-term stationary experiment indicated that long-lived active species can sustain the degradation of TC. Compared with other plasma treatment systems, this work offers a fast and efficient degradation method, showing significant potential in practical industrial applications.

Mesoporous amorphous FeOOH-encapsulated BiO_(2–x) photocatalyst with harnessing broad spectrum toward activation of persulfate for tetracycline degradation

With the growing concern about the water environment,the advanced oxidation process of persulfate activation assisted by photocatalysis has attracted considerable attention to decompose dissolved organic micropollutants.In this work,to overcome the drawbacks of the photocatalytic activity reduction caused by the photo-corrosion of non-stoichiometric BiO_(2–x),a novel material with amorphous FeOOH in situ grown on layered BiO_(2–x) to form a core-shell structure similar to popcorn chicken-like morphology was produced in two simple and environmentally beneficial steps.Through a series of degradation activity tests of hybrid materials under different conditions,the as-prepared materials exhibited remarkable degradation activity and stability toward tetracycline in the FeOOH@BiO_(2–x)/Vis/PS system due to the synergism of photocatalysis and persulfate activation.The results of XRD,SEM,TEM,XPS,FTIR,and BET show that the loading of FeOOH increases the specific surface area and active sites appreciably;the heterogeneous structure formed by FeOOH and BiO_(2–x) is more favorable to the effective separation of photogenerated carriers.The optimal degradation conditions were at a catalyst addition of 0.7 g·L^(–1),a persulfate concentration of 1.0 g·L^(–1),and an initial pH of 4.5,at which the degradation rate could reach 94.7%after 90 min.The influence of typical inorganic anions on degradation was also examined.ESR studies and radical quenching experiments revealed that·OH,SO_(4)^(-)·,and·O_(2)^(-)were the principal active species generated during the degradation of tetracycline.The results of the 1,10-phenanthroline approach proved that the effect of dissolved iron ions on the tetracycline degradation was limited,and the interfacial reaction that occurs on the active sites on the material's surface was a critical factor.This work provides a novel method for producing efficient broad-spectrum Bismuth-based composite photocatalysts and photocatalytic-activated persulfate synergistic degradation of tetracycline.

Visible Light-Induced Photocatalysis:Self-Fenton Degradation of p-CIPhOH Over Graphitic Carbon Nitride by a Polyethylenimine Bifunctional Catalyst

Deep degradation of organic pollutants by sunlight-induced coupled photocatalytic and Fenton (photo-Fenton) reactions is of immense importance for water purification. In this work, we report a novel bifunctional catalyst (Fe-PEI-CN) by codoping graphitic carbon nitride (CN) with polyethyleneimine ethoxylated (PEI) and Fe species, which demonstrated high activity during p-chlorophenol (p-ClPhOH) degradation via H_(2)O_(2) from the photocatalytic process. The relationship between the catalytic efficiency and the structure was explored using diff erent characterization methods. The Fe modification of CN was achieved through Fe-N coordination, which ensured high dispersion of Fe species and strong stability against leaching during liquid- phase reactions. The Fe modification initiated the Fenton reaction by activating H_(2)O_(2) into ·OH radicals for deep degradation of p-ClPhOH. In addition, it eff ectively promoted light absorption and photoelectron-hole (e-h ^(+) ) separation, corresponding to improved photocatalytic activity. On the other hand, PEI could significantly improve the ability of CN to generate H_(2)O_(2) through visible light photocatalysis. The maximum H_(2)O_(2) yield reached up to 102.6 μmol/L, which was 22 times higher than that of primitive CN. The cooperation of photocatalysis and the self-Fenton reaction has led to high-activity mineralizing organic pollutants with strong durability, indicating good potential for practical application in wastewater treatment.

Mapping and understanding degradation of alpine wetlands in the northern Maloti-Drakensberg, southern Africa

The alpine terrestrials of the Maloti-Drakensberg in southern Africa play crucial roles in ecosystem functions and livelihoods,yet they face escalating degradation from various factors including overgrazing and climate change.This study employs advanced Digital Soil Mapping(DSM)techniques coupled with remote sensing to map and assess wetland coverage and degradation in the northern Maloti-Drakensberg.The model achieved high accuracies of 96%and 92%for training and validation data,respectively,with Kappa statistics of 0.91 and 0.83,marking a pioneering automated attempt at wetland mapping in this region.Terrain attributes such as terrain wetness index(TWI)and valley depth(VD)exhibit significant positive correlations with wetland coverage and erosion gully density,Channel Network Depth and slope were negative correlated.Gully density analysis revealed terrain attributes as dominant factors driving degradation,highlighting the need to consider catchment-specific susceptibility to erosion.This challenge traditional assumptions which mainly attribute wetland degradation to external forces such as livestock overgrazing,ice rate activity and climate change.The sensitivity map produced could serve as a basis for Integrated Catchment Management(ICM)projects,facilitating tailored conservation strategies.Future research should expand on this work to include other highland areas,explore additional covariates,and categorize wetlands based on hydroperiod and sensitivity to degradation.This comprehensive study underscores the potential of DSM and remote sensing in accurately assessing and managing wetland ecosystems,crucial for sustainable resource management in alpine regions.

Non-thermal atmospheric-pressure positive pulsating corona discharge in degradation of textile dye Reactive Blue 19 enhanced by Bi_(2)O_(3) catalyst

In this work,monoclinic Bi_(2)O_(3) was applied for the first time,to the best of our knowledge,as a catalyst in the process of dye degradation by a non-thermal atmospheric-pressure positive pulsating corona discharge.The research focused on the interaction of the plasma-generated species and the catalyst,as well as the role of the catalyst in the degradation process.Plasma decomposition of the anthraquinone reactive dye Reactive Blue 19(RB 19) was performed in a selfmade reactor system.Bi_(2)O_(3) was prepared by electrodeposition followed by thermal treatment,and characterized by x-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive xray techniques.It was observed that the catalyst promoted decomposition of plasma-generated H_(2)O_(2) into ·OH radicals,the principal dye-degrading reagent,which further attacked the dye molecules.The catalyst improved the decolorization rate by 2.5 times,the energy yield by 93.4%and total organic carbon removal by 7.1%.Excitation of the catalyst mostly occurred through strikes by plasma-generated reactive ions and radical species from the air,accelerated by the electric field,as well as by fast electrons with an energy of up to 15 eV generated by the streamers reaching the liquid surface.These strikes transferred the energy to the catalyst and created the electrons and holes,which further reacted with H_(2)O_(2) and water,producing ·OH radicals.This was indentified as the primary role of the catalyst in this process.Decolorization reactions followed pseudo first-order kinetics.Production of H_(2)O_(2) and the dye degradation rate increased with increase in the input voltage.The optimal catalyst dose was 500 mg·dm^(-3).The decolorization rate was a little lower in river water compared with that in deionized water due to the side reactions of ·OH radicals with organic matter and inorganic ions dissolved in the river water.

Preparation of K-doped g-C_(3)N_(4) composite loaded on magnetic attapulgite and its degradation performance for malachite green

Visible-light-driven photocatalysis is a promising technology for the treatment of dye wastewater.In this work,a novel photocatalyst of K-doped g-C_(3)N_(4) loaded on magnetic attapulgite(ATP)(Kω-g-C_(3)N_(4)@ATP-Fe_(3)O_(4))with excellent visible light photocatalytic properties and stability were successfully prepared and characterized.The removal efficiency of Kω-g-C_(3)N_(4)@ATP-Fe_(3)O_(4) for malachite green(MG)was studied,and the degradation mechanism was analyzed and proposed.It was found that the K_(5)-g-C_(3)N_(4)@ATP-Fe_(3)O_(4) photocatalyst possessed excellent degradation efficiency of over 98.0%for the MG dye wastewater under optimal conditions.Moreover,the K_(5)-g-C_(3)N_(4)@ATP-Fe_(3)O_(4) materials possessed good recyclability with a removal rate over 82%after 4 cycles.Under visible light condition,the K_(5)-g-C_(3)N_(4)@ATP-Fe_(3)O_(4) photocatalyst produce radicals of·OH and O_(2)^(-)to degrade the MG dyes,which was supported by electron paramagnetic resonance(EPR)and radical trapping experiments.In addition,the LC-MS analysis interpreted the degradation pathways and intermediates of MG in the solution.The findings in this work indicate that the prepared photocatalytic material has excellent degradation efficiency for MG and can be applied in dye wastewater treatment.

Carbon-doped CuFe_(2)O_(4) with C-O-M channels for enhanced Fenton-like degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride: From construction to mechanism

Carbon-doped copper ferrite(C–CuFe_(2)O_(4))was synthesized by a simple two-step hydrothermal method,which showed enhanced tetracycline hydrochloride(TCH)removal efficiency as compared to the pure CuFe_(2)O_(4) in Fenton-like reaction.A removal efficiency of 94%was achieved with 0.2 g L^(-1) catalyst and 20 mmol L^(-1) H_(2)O_(2) within 90 min.We demonstrated that 5%C–CuFe_(2)O_(4) catalyst in the presence of H_(2)O_(2) was significantly efficient for TCH degradation under the near-neutral pH(5–9)without buffer.Multiple techniques,including SEM,TEM,XRD,FTIR,Raman,XPS M€ossbauer and so on,were conducted to investigate the structures,morphologies and electronic properties of as-prepared samples.The introduction of carbon can effectively accelerate electron transfer by cooperating with Cu and Fe to activate H_(2)O_(2) to generate·OH and·O_(2)^(-).Particularly,theoretical calculations display that the p,p,d orbital hybridization of C,O,Cu and Fe can form C–O–Cu and C–O–Fe bonds,and the electrons on carbon can transfer to metal Cu and Fe along the C–O–Fe and C–O–Cu channels,thus forming electron-rich reactive centers around Fe and Cu.This work provides lightful reference for the modification of spinel ferrites in Fenton-like application.