Synergistic effect and mechanism of CeFeO3/GO for the degradation of benzotriazole in electrocatalytic-ozone coupled system

Magnetic cerium ferrate nanoparticles, coupled with graphene oxide (GO) hybrids were synthesized via a hydrothermal method. These composite materials acted as catalysts for the degradation of the organic pollutant benzotriazole (BTA) in water using an electrocatalytically coupled ozone process (EOP). Optimal conditions for CeFeO 3 composite GO in BTA removal were determined through experiments, considering parameters such as pH, catalyst dosage, aeration flow rate, current density and inorganic anion concentration. Introducing CeFeO 3 /GO into the EOP at a concentration of 200 mg/L, with a current density of 4 mA·cm −2 and a reaction time of 50 min, results in a 100 % BTA removal rate. Experiments involving the trapping of free radicals evidenced that the system enhances the generation of hydroxyl radicals (•OH), superoxide radicals (•O 2 – ), and singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ) active substances during the degradation of BTA. The degradation mechanism of BTA with CeFeO 3 /GO in the EOP system was elucidated through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (IC-MS) analyses of the catalysts before and after the CeFeO 3 /GO-EOP reaction. The reaction energy barrier and electron transfer mechanism of CeFeO 3 /GO adsorption of O 3 and the degradation mechanism of BTA in CeFeO 3 /GO-O 3 were investigated by using density-functional theory (DFT). This study provides a novel perspective on the removal of emerging pollutants, offering valuable insights for future research and environmental remediation strategies.