Enhanced treatment of reclaimed water contaminated with emerging contaminants using a flow-through Fenton-like reactor based on nanoconfinement effects

The peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-based advanced oxidation processes are reliable for treating reclaimed water but face challenges such as poor interference resistance, iron sludge pollution, and catalytic site deactivation. We present a flow-through Fenton-like reaction system based on nanoconfinement material. By preparing nanoconfined FeO_x within the pores of a zeolitic imidazolate framework, we restrain Fe ion leaching and enhance PMS activation efficiency in complex environments. Three-dimensional MoS₂ nanosheets on the material's surface serve as auxiliary catalytic sites, promoting Fe redox cycling. This system maintains a sulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradation efficiency of over 95 % after five cycles, outperforming the non-confined material by 2.9 times. Furthermore, based on distinct free radical regulation pathways under different reaction conditions (•SO₄⁻ and •OH under dark conditions, and ¹O₂ under light conditions), this system efficiently removes total organic carbon (TOC), leaving 25 % residual TOC after 40 min. Experimental and theoretical analyses show that nanoconfined Fe and surface-loaded MoS₂ adjust the material's energy level structure, significantly increasing charge carrier mobility and reactivity. Our results validate the conceptual design of the Fenton-like reactor for widespread application in treating emerging contaminants in reclaimed water.