Permanganate activation by glucose-derived carbonaceous materials for highly efficient degradation of phenol and p-nitrophenol: Formation of hydroxyl radicals and multiple roles of carbonaceous materials

Owing to its inertness toward refractory organic pollutants and the release of Mn2+, the use of permanganate was limited in soil and groundwater remediation. The present study proposed an improvement strategy based on glucose-derived carbonaceous materials, which enhanced the potential of permanganate degrading organic pollutants. The glucose-derived carbonaceous material with 1000 °C charring temperature was named C1000, which was exploited in activating KMnO4 for the elimination of refractory organic contaminants. The addition of C1000 in the KMnO4 system triggered the degradation of refractory p-nitrophenol and quicken phenol degradation. Unlike the detection of Mn(III) species in a solo KMnO4 system, the presence of C1000 facilitated the formation of •OH in the KMnO4 system, which was confirmed by the use of quenchers such as methanol, benzoic acid, tertiary butanol, and carbonate. Additionally, the glucose-derived carbonaceous material played multiple roles in improving the performance of permanganate, including the enrichment of organic pollutants, donation of electrons to permanganate, and acting as an electron shuttle to facilitate the oxidation of organic pollutants by permanganate. The study's novel findings have the potential to expand the use of permanganate in the remediation of organic pollutants. [Display omitted] •Permanganate behaved inertly toward refractory pollutants.•Carbonaceous materials stimulated the potential of permanganate to degrade organic pollutants.•Reactive species of .•OH, Mn(V), and Mn(III) were detected during the reaction.••OH was the dominant reactive species for PNP degradation.•The role of Mn(III) was less important than previously considered.