Insights into efficient activation of H2O2 by sulfur-doped CuFeO2: Important role of sulfur and sulfamethoxazole oxidation

In the field of advanced oxidation processes, the efficient activation of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) plays a crucial role in the degradation of organic pollutants. Herein, sulfur-doped CuFeO 2 (S-CuFeO 2 ) was synthesized and exhibited enhanced catalytic activity for sulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradation via H 2 O 2 activation. Sulfur incorporation into the CuFeO 2 lattice modulates the electronic structure and surface properties, thereby facilitating H 2 O 2 activation and promoting O O bond cleavage and the generation of highly reactive oxygen species (ROSs). Combined quenching experiments, electron spin resonance (ESR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that hydroxyl radicals (HO • ) and superoxide radicals (O 2 •− ) dominate the SMX degradation in oxidation process. In addition, the S-CuFeO 2 /H 2 O 2 system demonstrates good stability, low metal leaching, and effective performance in different water matrices and for various organic pollutants. Toxicity evaluation further indicates a reduction in overall toxicity during degradation. This work provides mechanistic insight into H 2 O 2 activation by sulfur-doped catalysts and offers a feasible strategy for designing efficient catalysts for antibiotic-contaminated wastewater treatment. Download: Download high-res image (199KB) Download: Download full-size image