Nano-hybrids of needle-like MnO2 on graphene oxide coupled with peroxymonosulfate for enhanced degradation of norfloxacin: A comparative study and probable degradation pathway

[Display omitted] •MnO2/GO nano-hybrids were fabricated under mild conditions.•More than 91% norfloxacin was degraded within 20 min.•The mineralization rates of norfloxacin could reach to 76%.•Possible degradation pathways were proposed. In this work, 1D MnO2 nano-needles were prepared and grown on the graphene oxide (GO) nano-sheets successfully. The morphology and structure of materials were explored. The MnO2 nano-needles with a length of 200–400 nm were distributed uniformly on the GO nano-sheets. As a result of GO substrate, the MnO2/GO nano-hybrids (MnO2/GO) have the much larger surface area and more surface oxygen-containing functional groups than MnO2 nano-needles, which are beneficial for enrichment and degradation of the norfloxacin (NOR). Results showed that more than 80% NOR was degraded within 20 min at the dose of 10 mM PMS and 0.8 g/L catalysts. Moreover, the optimal pH in MnO2/PMS and MnO2/GO/PMS system were both acidic condition. Furthermore, the mechanism of PMS activation by MnO2/GO was investigated through radical identification using quenching experiments and EPR techniques. According to this, the HSO5− of PMS reacted with Mn (IV)/Mn(III) to form a redox loop, and GO played an important role in the degradation process. Finally, the transformation intermediates of NOR were identified and four probable degradation pathways were speculated. This work would provide a potential contribution towards NOR removal in the environmental remediation.