Topological defects strengthened nonradical oxidation performance of biochar catalyzed peroxydisulfate system

Abstract Nonradical oxidation based on peroxydisulfate (PDS) activation has attracted increasing attention for selective degradation of organic pollutants. Herein, topological defects were introduced into biochar (BC) via removing N atoms in N-doped BC (NBC) an attempt to improve the nonradical catalytic performance. Compared pristine and NBC, introduction could achieve up 36.6- 8.7-times activity enhancement, respectively. More importantly, it was found that dominated by defects, which verified significant positive correlation between pseudo-first-order rate constants content defects. Theoretical calculations suggested enhanced electron-donating ability reducing energy gap, made electrons transfer PDS molecules more easily. As a result, holes generated after carbon lost electrons, induced process. Benefiting from merits oxidation, developed BC/PDS system showed superior performance electron-rich contaminants presence inorganic anions actual environments. This study not only provides potential avenue designing efficient biochar-based catalysts, but also advances mechanism understanding process Graphical