(2022) Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry_Nanoscale CoNi alloy@carbon derived from Hofmann-MOF as a magnetic/effective activator for monopersulfate to eliminate an ultraviolet filter

Liu W.-J., Kwon E., Thanh B.X., Lee J., Ta C.K., Sirivithayapakorn S., Lin K.-Y.A.

(Springer Medizin) Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry ISSN: 20089244 Vol. Issue. Article No. DOI: 10.1007/s40097-022-00499-w

As the widely used ultraviolet (UV) filter, Ensulizole (ELZ), has been proven as an environmental hormone, development of useful techniques for eliminating ELZ is imperative. Since SO₄^·−-based oxidation technologies are promising for treating emerging contaminants, and cobalt (Co) appears to be an extremely useful catalyst for monopersulfate (MPS) activation, that would be critical to construct advantageous cobaltic catalyst of MPS activation. A unique activator would be derived from a special metal organic framework ([Co]pyrazine[Ni(CN)₄]) which is carbonized to become a nanocluster comprised of CoNi alloy nanoparticles (NPs) confined in carbon nanospheres, and nanotubes, forming CoNi@Carbon (CNC). Such a CNC nanocomposite would exhibit several promising properties: (1) as Co is the extremely effective metal for MPS activation, CoNi is expected for offering superior performance for activating MPS; (2) high magnetization of CoNi alloy would equip CNC with a magnetically-controllability; (3) CoNi encapsulated in carbon is guarded to enhance its reusability; (4) the interlaced configurations of CNC also make it to show higher active sites for MPS activation. Thus, CNC exhibits a significantly stronger activating capability than Co₃O₄, which is the conventional heterogeneous catalyst for MPS. CNC/MPS also displays a lower activation energy (Ea) for ELZ degradation than literatures, showing advantages of CNC. Mechanisms for MPS activation and ELZ degradation were also elucidated to further understand elimination process of ELZ by MOF-derived cobaltic catalysts. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Islamic Azad University.