Degradation of carbamazepine by MWCNTs-promoted generation of high-valent iron-oxo species in a mild system with O-bridged iron perfluorophthalocyanine dimers

Metal phthalocyanine has been extensively studied as a catalyst for degradation of carbamazepine (CBZ). However, metal phthalocyanine tends to undergo their own dimerization or polymerization, thereby reducing their activity points and affecting their catalytic properties. In this study, a catalytic system consisting of O-bridged iron perfluorophthalocyanine dimers (FePcF 16 -O-FePcF 16 ), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and H 2 O 2 was proposed. The results showed MWCNTs loaded with FePcF 16 -O-FePcF 16 can achieve excellent degradation of CBZ with smaller dosages of FePcF 16 -O-FePcF 16 and H 2 O 2 , and milder reaction temperatures. In addition, the results of experiments revealed the reaction mechanism of non-hydroxyl radicals. The highly oxidized high-valent iron-oxo (Fe(IV)=O) species was the main reactive species in the FePcF 16 -O-FePcF 16 /MWCNTs/H 2 O 2 system. It is noteworthy that MWCNTs can improve the dispersion of FePcF 16 -O-FePcF 16 , contributing to the production of highly oxidized Fe(IV)=O. Then, the pathway of CBZ oxidative degradation was speculated, and the study results also provide new ideas for metal phthalocyanine-loaded carbon materials to degrade emerging pollutants.