Degradation of Acid Orange 7 by peroxymonosulfate activated with the recyclable nanocomposites of g-C3N4 modified magnetic carbon

Carbon-based catalysts have attracted high attention since they are greener and cheaper, while magnetic nanomaterials are very useful in environmental application because of the easy recovery and operation given by the magnetic separability. Therefore, graphitic carbon nitride modified magnetic carbon nanocomposites Fe3O4@C/g-C3N4 was prepared herein for the first time as a new carbon-based catalyst for the activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS). The catalytic properties of Fe3O4@C/g-C3N4 in activating PMS for the degradation of Acid Orange 7 (AO 7), a model organic pollutant, were investigated. AO 7 degradation efficiency was significantly enhanced after modification of Fe3O4@C with g-C3N4, and the composite Fe3O4@C/g-C3N4 from loading of 5 wt% g-C3N4 and calcined at 300 °C for 30 min exhibited the best performance. AO 7 could be efficiently decolorized using the “Fe3O4@C/C3N4 (5%) + PSM” system within the pH range of 2–6, and 97% of AO 7 could be removed in 20 min without pH adjustment (pH = 4). Radical quenching and EPR studies confirmed that both sulfate and hydroxyl radicals produced from PMS activation were the active species responsible for the oxidation of AO 7. The degradation mechanism was suggested based on the experimental results and XPS analyses. It was proposed that the CO groups on the carbon surface of Fe3O4@C rather than the CO in g-C3N4 played a key role as the active sites for PMS activation. The catalyst was magnetically separable and displayed good stability and reusability, thus providing a potentially green catalyst for sustainable remediation of organic pollutants. [Display omitted] •g-C3N4 modified magnetic carbon nanocomposite Fe3O4@C/g-C3N4 was firstly reported.•Fe3O4@C/g-C3N4 exhibited high activity for dye degradation with PMS.•The catalytic mechanism for PMS activation and degradation processes was proposed.•CO groups from the Fe3O4@C were the principal reactive sites for PMS activation.•The magnetically separable catalyst exhibited good stability and reusability.