Degradation of acetaminophen using persulfate activated with P-doped biochar and thiosulfate

[Display omitted] •Acetaminophen was rapidly degraded in persulfate/P-doped biochar/thiosulfate system.•A synergistic effect existed among persulfate, p-doped biochar and thiosulfate.•Electron transfer could be responsible for the degradation of acetaminophen.•The system maintained high removal efficiency in the water from difference sources. In the study, p-doped biochar (PBC) was prepared by the pyrolysis of H3PO4-impregnated cyanobacteria and used together with thiosulfate (TS) to activate persulfate (PS) for the degradation of acetaminophen (ACP). The biochar was characterized and the results showed that H3PO4 treatment had a pronouncedeffect on the surface structure and chemical composition of biochar. ACP (0.05 mmol/L) could be completely removed within 90 min under the optimal conditions: 2.0 mmo/L of PS, 0.1 g/L of PBC and 2.0 mmol/L of TS. A synergistic effect existed among PS, PBC and TS. The PS/PBC/TS system maintained high removal efficiency for ACP in the water from difference sources and Cl- (