Derived from heavy metal adsorbents: Copper-based catalysts for efficient peroxymonosulfate activation and organic pollutant degradation

Treating Heavy metals and organic pollutants pose significant challenges in water remediation. In this study, we innovatively developed a Fenton-like catalyst by transforming spent heavy metal adsorbents into a carbon-confined copper-based catalyst (Cu@C) through a high-temperature pyrolysis strategy. This approach successfully achieves the dual objectives of waste valorization and construction of high-performance Fenton-like catalysts. Characterization analyses reveal that the abundant C-O-Cu structures in the catalyst create highly efficient active sites, endowing it with exceptional catalytic performance in activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for organic pollutant degradation. Mechanistic investigations demonstrate that ≡Cu(II)-OOSO 3 − and Cu(III) species serve as the dominant reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP). The confinement effect of the carbon matrix significantly reduces copper leaching, thereby substantially enhancing the catalyst's cycling stability. Beyond presenting a new design framework for high-performance copper‑carbon water treatment catalysts, this work pioneers a circular economy approach by transforming waste adsorbents into valuable environmental functional materials.