Efficient Degradation of Benzalkonium Chloride By FeMn-CA300 Catalyst Activated Persulfate Process: Surface Hydroxyl Potentiation Mechanism and Degradation Pathway

With the outbreak of the new crown epidemic, the consumption of COVID-19 disinfectants was increased dramatically. Benzalkonium chloride (DDBAC), as a cationic surfactant disinfectant for import and export cargoes, is eager for effective method for degradation. For DDBAC effective degradation, polyhedral Fe-Mn bimetallic catalyst of Prussian blue analogue (FeMn-CA300) was novelty developed for rapid peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation. The results showed that the Fe/Mn redox and surface hydroxyl groups in the catalyst played an important role in the DDBAC enhanced degradation. The removal effectiveness of 10 mg·L-1 DDBAC was up to 99.4% in 80 min under the initial pH=7, catalyst dosage of 0.4 g·L-1, and PMS concentration of 15 mmol·L-1. In addition, FeMn-CA300 also had a wide pH applicability range. The results indicated that hydroxyls, sulfate radicals, and singlet oxygen could effectively improve the degradation efficiency, where sulfate radicals played a crucial role. Finally, the corresponding degradation path of DDBAC degradation was further provided according to GC-MS results.