Controlled carbonization of microplastics loaded nano zero-valent iron for catalytic degradation of tetracycline

Sun, Ruirui; Yang, Jiapeng; Huang, Rong; Wang, Chongqing

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135123

Cited by 45Advanced oxidation water treatmentEnvironmental remediation with nanomaterialsAdvanced Photocatalysis Techniques

Controlled carbonization of microplastics loaded nano zero-valent iron for catalytic degradation of tetracycline

Sun, Ruirui, Yang, Jiapeng, Huang, Rong, Wang, Chongqing·2022·Chemosphere

DOI 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135123

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Abstract

Nano zero-valent iron loaded porous carbon derived from microplastics was designed as heterogeneous catalyst for degradation of persistent organic pollutants. Controlled carbonization of microplastics with molten salt was conducted to tune the morphology of carbon product. Controlled carbonization induces higher carbon yield (from 17.73% to 52.24%) and larger surface area (from 403.72 m 2/g to 601.82 m 2/g). The catalyst (Fe/MMPC) was characterized by Raman, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscope. Loading nano zero-valent iron onto porous carbon are verified in the catalyst. The process factors including Fe/MMPC dosage, H 2 O 2, pH, anions, and temperature were studied to estimate the catalytic performance. Tetracycline degradation (81.8% within 10 min) is effectively obtained in the Fe/MMPC and H 2 O 2 system. The apparent rate constant is 0.1311-0.2999 min-1 under different temperature, and the activation energy of catalytic process is 22 kJ/mol. Pollutants including rhodamine B, p-nitrophenol, and butylxanthate are efficiently degraded in the catalytic system. The predominant species of catalytic reactions are hydroxyl radicals, which are mainly produced from H 2 O 2 activation enhanced by zero-valent iron in Fe/MMPC. This work offers an innovative strategy for microplastic management and wastewater treatment.

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The Sun team's molten salt pyrolysis-zero-valent iron loading strategy increased carbon yield to 52.24% (a 194% improvement over conventional processes) and achieved efficient loading of zero-valent iron.
“This strategy used molten salt pyrolysis to convert waste microplastics into a porous carbon support, increasing the carbon yield to 52.24% (a 194% improvement over conventional processes) and achieving efficient loading of zero-valent iron.”
From Functional carbon materials from waste plastics: synthesis and applications (2025) · cites this paper as [117]
The catalyst exhibited ultrahigh reaction kinetics in tetracycline degradation, with an apparent rate constant of 0.2999 min-1 (81.8% degradation in 10 min) and an activation energy reduced to 22 kJ/mol.
“This catalyst exhibited ultrahigh reaction kinetics in tetracycline degradation, with an apparent rate constant of 0.2999 min -1 (81.8% degradation in 10 min), and an activation energy reduced to 22 kJ/mol.”
From Functional carbon materials from waste plastics: synthesis and applications (2025) · cites this paper as [117]

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Authors: Sun, R., Yang, J., Huang, R., & Wang, C.
Affiliations: Zhengzhou University (CN)
Corresponding author: Wang, Chongqing
ORCID: Sun, Ruirui
Yang, Jiapeng
Huang, Rong
Wang, Chongqing
Venue: Chemosphere
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 2022-09
Volume: 303
Issue: Pt 2
Pages: 135123
ISSN: 0045-6535 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135123
OpenAlex: W4281556148
Cited by: 45
References: 47
Citations by year: 2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 9
FWCI: 2.99
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license (tdm)
doi.org/10.15223/policy-017 (stm-asf)
doi.org/10.15223/policy-037 (stm-asf)
doi.org/10.15223/policy-012 (stm-asf)
doi.org/10.15223/policy-029 (stm-asf)
doi.org/10.15223/policy-004 (stm-asf)
Locations: Chemosphere (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: China Academy of Space Technology (2019QNRC001)
National Key Research and Development Program of China (2020YFC1908802)
Topics: Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Advanced oxidation water treatment
Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Environmental remediation with nanomaterials
Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques
Keywords: microplastics, nanoscale zero-valent iron, porous carbon, molten salt carbonization, tetracycline degradation, heterogeneous catalysis, hydrogen peroxide activation, hydroxyl radicals, persistent organic pollutants, rhodamine B, p-nitrophenol, wastewater treatment
MeSH terms: Microplastics, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Carbon, Hydrogen Peroxide, Iron, Plastics, Tetracycline, Water Pollutants, Chemical

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Controlled carbonization of microplastics loaded nano zero-valent iron for catalytic degradation of tetracycline

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