Overcoming the pH Dependence of Iron-Based Catalysts and Efficient Generation of High-Valent Ferrite by Constructing a Neutral Microenvironment

The reliance on acidic working environments presents a significant bottleneck in the development and widespread application of peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-activated high-valent iron-oxo systems and iron-based catalysts. In this study, we present a system of non-homogeneous activation of peroxymonosulfate that is capable of overcoming the acidic environment in heterogeneous to generate continuous non-radicals for the selective degradation of organic pollutants such as sulfamethoxazole. The system takes advantage of amphiprotic hydroxides to create a homogeneous neutral pH microenvironment at the heterogeneous interface of the catalyst. The generation of the neutral pH microenvironment is capable of inducing the formation of high-valent iron-oxo species and a more stable cycling of iron ions in the iron-based material., promoting sustained catalytic activity A series of design quenching experiments, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments, and three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy (3D-EEM) which were conducted to assess the selectivity of FeCo-LDH/PMS under high salt or natural organic conditions, as well as its effectiveness in treating real wastewater. These findings offer a novel approach to overcoming pH limitations and enhancing the selectivity of target pollutants in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs).