Fabrication of Ce-doped macroporous carbon fibers for efficient degradation of tetracycline by activating persulfate

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and their derivatives have gained significant attention in recent years for their ability to catalyze the advanced oxidation of persulfates. Cerium-doped MOFs, in particular, have shown promise due to their high catalytic efficiency, practical applicability, and cost-effectiveness. However, their structure, catalytic properties, and mechanisms are not yet fully understood. ZIF-8 was chosen as the raw material to prepare cerium-doped hollow carbon nanofibers (Ce-HCNFs) using the electrostatic spinning-calcination method. The objective is to investigate the structure, catalytic performance, and catalytic mechanism of Ce-HCNFs. The results show that Ce-HCNFs catalyzed the degradation of tetracycline (TC) by persulfate up to 76.9%. Quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance experiments indicate the dominant role of single-linear oxygen. Furthermore, the experiments on the influence factor and cycling demonstrate the exceptional stability and recycling capability of Ce-HCNFs in real-world water environments.