Multiple Strategies to Enhance Degradation of Antibiotic by K2−xMn8O16 Nanowire Hydrogels for Activating Peroxymonosulfate

Abstract Tetracycline (TC), as a typical micro-pollutant in natural environment, has attracted much attention. The peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-based advanced oxidation process is regarded as a promising technology for TC treatment, while its potential practical application is mainly dependent on the oxidant yield derived from activating PMS by catalysts. Therefore, the development of improved activators which are characterized by adequate activity and stability for PMS decomposition is in high demand. In this paper, the high-efficiency K 2−x Mn 8 O 16 nanowire hydrogels (KNH) with high stability was synthesized through a simple hydrothermal method and then an enhanced PMS/KNH system for antibiotic degradation via multiple strategies was established. For removal of low-concentration TC, a high degradation of nearly 95% could be achieved by activating PMS in a wide pH rang. More than that, a further catalytic mechanism of this PMS/KNH system was also put forward, thus providing a guideline for designing and fabricating transition-metal catalysts to activate PMS. Graphic Abstract