Active sites and structure regulation of non-radical pathways in N-doped graphene-activated persulfate

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the non-free radical pathways and active sites of N-doped graphene (N-rGO)-activated peroxymonosulfate (PMS). All as-prepared N-rGO samples could activate PMS and develop non-radical pathways. Graphitic-N sites were the major sites for N-rGO activation of PMS, and their content was positively related to the intensity of non-radical pathways. For sulfamethoxazole (SMX), the degradation rate by NH₃-rGO-10/PMS and non-radicals within 10 min was 93.66 and 75.34% respectively. In the presence of different anions and different concentrations of humic acid, the removal rate of SMX was still more than 90%.