Fe-N/C prepared by a two-step process as an efficient heterogeneous Fenton catalyst for TC degradation

BACKGROUND The environmental persistence and resistance-promoting potential of tetracycline demands an efficient catalytic system capable of its complete oxidation. Herein, a bamboo derived Fe-N co-doped activated biochar (designated as Fe-N/C-A-2P) was engineered by two-step synthesis strategy to activate H 2 O 2 in a heterogeneous Fenton system for efficient tetracycline (TC) degradation. RESULTS The catalyst under optimized conditions (catalyst dosage = 0.5 g L −1 , pH = 3, H 2 O 2 concentration = 300 mg L −1 , temperature = 25 °C, and TC = 70 mg L −1 ) achieved about 90% TC removal within 60 min. It exhibited significantly enhanced reaction kinetics and sustained performance over multiple cycles with minimal iron leaching, indicating strong Fe retention and preserved stability. Radical quenching analysis confirmed a dual oxidative route, involving both radical (·OH and O 2 · − ) and non-radical ( 1 O 2 ) mechanism for TC degradation. The catalyst displayed strong resistance to common inorganic anions and humic substances, highlighting its applicability beyond idealized conditions. CONCLUSION These findings demonstrate that Fe-N/C-A-2P catalyst serves as an efficient heterogeneous Fenton catalyst for removal of TC, providing a feasible approach for mitigating antibiotic contamination in aqueous media. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).