ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Coconut Shell Biochar Catalyst Activates Sodium
Percarbonate for Rapid Rhodamine B Removal:
Efficiency, Influencing Factors, and Mechanisms
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1
State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering,
Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
2
Centre for Environmental Risk Management & Remediation of Soil & Groundwater, College of Environmental Science
and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
3
Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
Submission date: 2024-02-21
Final revision date: 2024-06-19
Acceptance date: 2024-06-30
Online publication date: 2024-09-03
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ABSTRACT
The efficient activation of sodium percarbonate (SPC) is essential for degrading organic
contaminants. Converting biomass into biochar as a multifunctional biocatalyst to accelerate oxidizer
activation for water remediation has attracted much attention. In this study, we explored the performance
of coconut shell biochar (CSBC) as a catalyst to activate SPC for degrading a model pollutant, rhodamine
B (RhB). Optimal CSBC was synthesized via pyrolysis at 700°C for 4 h. In the CSBC/SPC system,
the removal efficiency of RhB reached 96.11% within 4 h, which was much higher than that of the SPC
system (7.76%). Quenching and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy results showed
that hydroxyl radicals are crucial reactive oxygen species for RhB removal. Graphitization structures
of the material, oxygen-containing functional groups, and persistent free radicals were the dominant
factors controlling the activation of SPC by CSBC. Moreover, higher pH (11.72) enhanced the removal
of RhB in the CSBC/SPC system; a 30% increase in removal rate was observed. However, anions Cl-,
SO4
2-, and PO4
3- in water slightly inhibited the removal of RhB. This work provided a new method to
activate SPC for the degradation of contaminants in water.