Sulfidised nanoscale zerovalent iron-modified pitaya peel-derived carbon for enrofloxacin degradation and swine wastewater treatment: Combination of electro-Fenton and bio-electro-Fenton process

In this study, a new Fenton system combining electro-Fenton and bio-electro-Fenton (EF-BEF) processes was proposed for ENR degradation and swine wastewater treatment, and pitaya peel-derived carbon modified with sulfidised nanoscale zerovalent iron (SnZVI) was developed as a catalyst for the system. The as-prepared PPC-800 carbon displayed a hierarchical porous structure (693.5 m2/g), abundant oxygen-containing groups, and carbon defects, which endowed it with a good adsorption capacity, high H2O2 generation capacity (151.9 ± 10.5 mg/L) during the EF period, and good power production performance (194.3 ± 12.50 mW/m2) during the BEF period. When modified with SnZVI, despite the decrease in the adsorption capacity and power output (102.05 ± 4.05 mW/m2), the SnZVI@PPC-2 exhibited the best ENR removal performance with that of 98.9 ± 0.2% in the EF period and 86.2 ± 5.6% during the BEF period. An increase in the current intensity and air flow rate promoted ENR degradation. Finally, swine wastewater was treated using the SnZVI@PPC-2 EF-BEF system, and 97.9 ± 1.3% of the TOC was removed using the combined system. [Display omitted] •Cost-effective synthesis of pitaya peel-derived carbon and modification with SnZVI.•Good adsorption of ENR, electricity, and H2O2 generation capacity was achieved using PPC-800 and SnZVI@PPC-2.•Efficient ENR degradation was achieved using SnZVI@PPC-2 in the electro-Fenton (EF) and bio-electro-Fenton (BEF) processes.•Significant organic removal from swine wastewater using a combination of EF and BEF processes.