In-situ formed N-doped bamboo-like carbon nanotubes encapsulated with Fe nanoparticles supported by biochar as highly efficient catalyst for activation of persulfate (PS) toward degradation of organic pollutants

[Display omitted] •N-doped bamboo-like CNTs containing Fe nanoparticles (Fe@NCNT) were synthesized.•Fe@NCNT in situ grown on the surface of soybean dregs-derived biochar (Fe@NCNT − BC).•Fe@NCNT − BC exhibited a superior catalytic performance for PS.•Singlet oxygen (1O2) was the dominant ROS during the degradation process.•Both radical and non − radical mechanisms were involved in the Fe@NCNT − BC/PS system. In this study, N-doped bamboo-like carbon nanotubes encapsulated with Fe nanoparticles (Fe NPs) on the surface of soybean dregs-derived biochar (Fe@NCNT − BC) was synthesized via a low-cost and facile strategy. The unique composites behaved as efficient catalysts for the degradation of various organic pollutants by the activation of persulfate (PS). Under the conditions of [PS] = 5 mM, [RhB] = 20 mg/L, [Fe@NCNT-BC-800] = 1.0 g/L, pH = 7.0, the RhB degradation rate was very fast reaching up to 100% within 10 min. The system also exhibited significant high activity in a broad pH window (3.0–11.0). Meanwhile, the recycling experiments and Fe leaching tests further demonstrated the stability of Fe@NCNT − BC during the activation of PS. Most interestingly, the Fe nanoparticles played a key role in promoting the degree of graphitization and the formation of bamboo-like N-doped carbon nanotubes. Besides, the introduction of biochar significantly improved the dispersion ability to the Fe@NCNT − BC. The competitive radical quenching tests and electron paramagnetic resonance measurements (ESR) illustrated that instead of the traditional radicals (sulfate radicals and hydroxyl radicals), the non-radical singlet oxygen (1O2) was the dominant reactive oxidative species (ROS) in the Fe@NCNT-BC/PS system. A mechanistic study suggested that pyridinic N, graphitic N, sp2-hybridized carbon structure and C = O bond in the Fe@NCNT − BC − 800 promoted the generation of the ROS. This study successfully provides an economic and feasible method for synthesis of a novel catalyst as an eco-friendly and efficient material for the degradation of organic pollutants in the environment.