Efficient degradation of organic pollutants using carbon coil aerogels from waste tea as peroxymonosulfate activators

The efficient activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) using metal-free catalysts in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) has garnered significant attention for its potential in organic pollutant remediation. However, the development of cost-effective, high-performance, and recyclable catalysts for PMS activation remains a major challenge. In this study, we introduce a novel class of biomass carbon microcoil aerogels (BCCA), characterized by low cost, ultralight, highly elastic, and recyclable properties, and assess their performance in PMS-driven degradation of organic pollutants in wastewater. Our results demonstrate that the BCCA-700/PMS system achieved over 95 % removal of methylene blue and methyl orange within 10 min, while also removing 96.5 % of tetracycline within 90 min. Additionally, the BCCA exhibited remarkable mechanical stability, maintaining over 80 % of its initial degradation capacity after 4 cycles and demonstrating consistent performance across a wide range of pH levels and temperatures, with minimal impact on plant growth. The carbonization temperature was found to be a critical factor influencing the specific surface area, porosity, and distribution of oxygen-containing functional groups in the BCCA, which in turn enhanced both pollutant adsorption and PMS activation. The synergistic effects of these properties significantly improved contaminant removal efficiency. These findings not only present a sustainable approach for utilizing biomass waste, but also offer an effective and environmentally friendly material for advanced water treatment.