Degradation of Nitrophenols in Wastewater by Peroxymonosulfate Activated by Cobalt Oxide with Different Morphologies

Abstract The degradation effect of nitrophenol can be improved by controlling the morphology of metal oxides with highly active crystal planes. The octahedral, cubic and rod-like Co₃O₄ were prepared by using cobalt nitrate and cobalt acetate. The synthesized compounds were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM), and results show that the prepared Co₃O₄ have uniform size and high purity. Peroxymonosulfate (PMS) was activated by Co₃O₄ with different morphologies to degrade nitrophenols at pH 8.0. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and total organic carbon (TOC) analyzer were used to determine the changes of nitrophenols and total organic carbon content before and after the reaction. The reaction rate and nitrophenols degradation in the Co₃O₄/PMS system indicate that the activity of catalysts shows an order of rod-like Co₃O₄ > cubic Co₃O₄ > octahedral Co₃O₄, and the position of -NO₂ also affects the degradation of nitrophenol. The trace Co²⁺ leached from Co₃O₄ has no significant effect at pH 8.0, and all of the Co₃O₄ showed good reusability. Quenching experiments and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra show that the degradation of nitrophenol in Co₃O₄/PMS system is a pathway where hydroxyl radical (·OH), sulfate radical (SO₄^·-) and singlet oxygen (¹O₂) play main roles.

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	Zhang Xiaocong
	Wang Cong
	Wu Songhai

Keywords： Co₃O₄； peroxymonosulfate； nitrophenols； degradation； hydroxyl radical (·OH)； sulfate radical (SO₄^·-)

Received 2020-02-09;

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Zhang Xiaocong, Wang Cong, Wu Songhai.Degradation of Nitrophenols in Wastewater by Peroxymonosulfate Activated by Cobalt Oxide with Different Morphologies[J] Chemcial Industry and Engineering, 2020,V37(6): 38-47

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