Mechanistic insight into humic acid-enhanced sonophotocatalytic removal of 17β-estradiol: Formation and contribution of reactive intermediates

In this study, humic acid (HA) enhanced 17β-estradiol (17β-E2) degradation by Er3+-CdS/MoS2 (ECMS) was investigated under ultrasonic and light conditions. The degradation reaction rate of 17β-E2 was increased from (14.414 ± 0.315) × 10−3 min−1 to (122.677 ± 1.729) × 10−3 min−1 within 90 min sonophotocatalytic (SPC) reaction with the addition of HA. The results of quenching coupled with chemical probe experiments indicated that more reactive intermediates (RIs) including reactive oxygen species (ROSs) and triplet-excited states were generated in the HA-enhanced sonophotocatalytic system. The triplet-excited states of humic acid (3HA*), hydroxyl radical (•OH), and superoxide radical (•O2−) were the dominant RIs for 17β-E2 elimination. In addition, the energy- and electron-transfer process via coexisting HA also account for 12.86% and 29.24% contributions, respectively. The quantum yields of RIs in the SPC-ECMS-HA system followed the order of 3HA* > H2O2 >1O2 > •O2−> •OH. Moreover, the spectral and fluorescence characteristics of HA were further analyzed during the sonophotocatalytic reaction process. The study expanded new insights into the comprehension of the effects of omnipresent coexisting HA and RIs formation for the removal of 17β-E2 during the sonophotocatalytic process. [Display omitted] •Coexisting humic acid (HA) could enhance the generation of reactive intermediates (RIs) in the sonophotocatalytic system.•The triplet-excited states of HA, .•OH, and •O2− were the dominant RIs for 17β-E2 elimination.•The HA-mediated electron- and energy-transfer process occupy 29.24% and 12.86% contributions.•The quantum yields of RIs followed the order of 3HA* > H2O2 >1O2 > .•O2− > •OH.