Insights into free radical and non-radical routes regulation for water cleanup

Abstract In the field of wastewater treatment, the regulation of free radical and non-radical routes has been one of the major challenges. This study investigates the regulation of radical and non-radical oxidation pathways in the peroxymonosulfate (PMS) oxidation system by controlling the calcinati...

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Main Authors: Yi Zhou, Wenxuan Guo, Yanpan Li, Ming Gao, Xuning Li, Wenyuan Liu, Zhuan Chen, Xiaohui Zhang, Yanbo Zhou, Mingyang Xing
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63235-2
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author Yi Zhou
Wenxuan Guo
Yanpan Li
Ming Gao
Xuning Li
Wenyuan Liu
Zhuan Chen
Xiaohui Zhang
Yanbo Zhou
Mingyang Xing
author_facet Yi Zhou
Wenxuan Guo
Yanpan Li
Ming Gao
Xuning Li
Wenyuan Liu
Zhuan Chen
Xiaohui Zhang
Yanbo Zhou
Mingyang Xing
author_sort Yi Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In the field of wastewater treatment, the regulation of free radical and non-radical routes has been one of the major challenges. This study investigates the regulation of radical and non-radical oxidation pathways in the peroxymonosulfate (PMS) oxidation system by controlling the calcination temperature of carbon materials and constructing bimetallic single-atom catalysts (NC-FeMn(TA)). Density functional theory calculations and experimental tests indicate that increasing the pyridinic nitrogen content and incorporating single metal atoms in nitrogen-doped carbon materials result in a predominantly non-radical oxidation process. In contrast, enhancing the content of graphitic and pyrrolic nitrogen species and introducing bimetallic catalytic centers promote a radical oxidation pathway. The NC-FeMn(TA)/PMS system demonstrates high oxidation performance over a broad pH range, exhibiting significant interference resistance and stability, with 100% degradation of target pollutants after 22 cycles and complete removal of emerging pollutants (including pharmaceuticals and personal care products, endocrine disrupting chemicals, dyes and chemical materials) within 5 min. This system’s remarkable performance suggests broad application potential in water pollution control field.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-3c93bdab90e243fda761472424c91a1c2025-08-24T11:39:03ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-08-0116111210.1038/s41467-025-63235-2Insights into free radical and non-radical routes regulation for water cleanupYi Zhou0Wenxuan Guo1Yanpan Li2Ming Gao3Xuning Li4Wenyuan Liu5Zhuan Chen6Xiaohui Zhang7Yanbo Zhou8Mingyang Xing9School of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and TechnologySchool of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and TechnologySchool of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and TechnologySchool of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and TechnologyState Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesSchool of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and TechnologySchool of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and TechnologySchool of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and TechnologySchool of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and TechnologySchool of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and TechnologyAbstract In the field of wastewater treatment, the regulation of free radical and non-radical routes has been one of the major challenges. This study investigates the regulation of radical and non-radical oxidation pathways in the peroxymonosulfate (PMS) oxidation system by controlling the calcination temperature of carbon materials and constructing bimetallic single-atom catalysts (NC-FeMn(TA)). Density functional theory calculations and experimental tests indicate that increasing the pyridinic nitrogen content and incorporating single metal atoms in nitrogen-doped carbon materials result in a predominantly non-radical oxidation process. In contrast, enhancing the content of graphitic and pyrrolic nitrogen species and introducing bimetallic catalytic centers promote a radical oxidation pathway. The NC-FeMn(TA)/PMS system demonstrates high oxidation performance over a broad pH range, exhibiting significant interference resistance and stability, with 100% degradation of target pollutants after 22 cycles and complete removal of emerging pollutants (including pharmaceuticals and personal care products, endocrine disrupting chemicals, dyes and chemical materials) within 5 min. This system’s remarkable performance suggests broad application potential in water pollution control field.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63235-2
spellingShingle Yi Zhou
Wenxuan Guo
Yanpan Li
Ming Gao
Xuning Li
Wenyuan Liu
Zhuan Chen
Xiaohui Zhang
Yanbo Zhou
Mingyang Xing
Insights into free radical and non-radical routes regulation for water cleanup
Nature Communications
title Insights into free radical and non-radical routes regulation for water cleanup
title_full Insights into free radical and non-radical routes regulation for water cleanup
title_fullStr Insights into free radical and non-radical routes regulation for water cleanup
title_full_unstemmed Insights into free radical and non-radical routes regulation for water cleanup
title_short Insights into free radical and non-radical routes regulation for water cleanup
title_sort insights into free radical and non radical routes regulation for water cleanup
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63235-2
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