Rape Straw Supported FeS Nanoparticles with Encapsulated Structure as Peroxymonosulfate and Hydrogen Peroxide Activators for Enhanced Oxytetracycline Degradation

Iron-based catalysts with high load content of iron sulfide (FeS) were commonly peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) activators to degrade organic pollutants but limited catalytic efficiency and increased risk of ferrous ion leaching restricted their use. Meanwhile, various biomass materials such as straw, peel, and branch have been extensively prepared into biochar for mechanical support for iron-based catalysts; however, the preparation process of biochar was energy-intensive. In this study, FeS nanoparticles modified rape straw composites (RS–FeS) encapsulated with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (RS–EDTA–FeS) were successfully presented by in-situ synthesis method for efficiently activating PMS and H(2)O(2) to degrade oxytetracycline (OTC), which was economical and environmentally friendly. The results showed that the modified rape straw can remove OTC efficiently, and the addition of EDTA also significantly enhanced the stability and the reusability of the catalyst. In addition, EDTA also promoted the activation of H(2)O(2) at neutral pH. The OTC degradation efficiency of the two catalysts by PMS was faster than that of H(2)O(2), but H(2)O(2) had a stronger ability to remove OTC than PMS. The highest OTC removal efficiency of RS–FeS and RS–EDTA–FeS were 87.51 and 81.15%. O(2)(•–) and (1)O(2) were the major reactive oxidative species (ROS) in the PMS system. Furthermore, compared with RS–FeS, the addition of EDTA inhabited the generation of O(2)(•–) in the PMS system. Instead, O(2)(•–) and (•)OH were the major ROS in the H(2)O(2) system, but (1)O(2) was also identified in RS–FeS/H(2)O(2) system. RS–EDTA–FeS showed a trend of rising first and then decreasing in recycle test. Instead, the removal rate of OTC by RS–FeS decreased significantly with the increase in reuse times. In the actual wastewater test, the TOC removal of two catalysts active by H(2)O(2) was better than PMS, which was consistent with the test results of OTC, indicating that the two catalysts have application value in the removal of organic pollutants in actual wastewater. This study directly used plant materials as catalysts and omits the preparation process of biochar, greatly reduces the preparation cost and secondary pollution of catalysts, and provides theoretical support for the deepening of advanced oxidation technology.