Monodispersed CuFe2O4 nanoparticles anchored on natural kaolinite as highly efficient peroxymonosulfate catalyst for bisphenol A degradation

[Display omitted] •CuFe2O4 was uniformly anchored on kaolinite to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS).•Sulfate radicals are the primary radical species in CuFe2O4/kaolinite/PMS system.•CuFe2O4/kaolinite exhibited high catalytic activity and low leaching of metal ions.•More hydroxyl groups and accessible reactive sites enhanced its catalytic activity.•Low leaching of metal is ascribed to FeOAl bond between CuFe2O4 and kaolinite. In this study, CuFe2O4/kaolinite catalysts were fabricated through a facile citrate combustion method and were evaluated for their efficiency to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) towards the destruction of bisphenol A (BPA). The prepared catalysts were systematically characterized to explore the relationship between their characteristics and catalytic activities. In general, higher specific surface area, larger pore volume, more hydroxyl groups, and more accessible reactive sites of 40%-CuFe2O4/kaolinite contributed to the greater catalytic activity in peroxymonosulfate activation for BPA degradation compared to bare CuFe2O4. Monodispersed CuFe2O4 nanoparticles were uniformly anchored on the surface of kaolinite with FeOAl bond, which prevented leaching of metal ions and contributed to the excellent reusability. The sulfate radicals produced in the CuFe2O4/kaolinite/PMS system were proved as the predominant radical species through electron spin resonance (ESR) and radical quenching experiments. Based on the results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and attenuated total reflectance – Fourier transform infrared spectra (ATR-FTIR), two main possible pathways of sulfate radicals generation were proposed: the generation and decomposition of Cu(II)-(HO)OSO3− (Cu(II)/Cu(III) and Cu(III)/Cu(II) redox reaction) and the oxidation of Fe(II). Moreover, the BPA degradation pathway was proposed through the identification of transformation products. This work provides an interesting insight for PMS activation by the high-efficient natural mineral-based catalysts for wastewater reclamation.