Carbamazepine degradation by heterogeneous activation of peroxymonosulfate with lanthanum cobaltite perovskite: Performance, mechanism and toxicity

Abstract The widely used carbamazepine (CBZ) is one of the most persistent pharmaceuticals and suffers insufficient removal efficiency by conventional wastewater treatment. A synthesized Co-based perovskite (LaCoO3) was used to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) in order to degrade CBZ. Results showed that LaCoO3 exhibited an excellent performance in PMS activation and CBZ degradation at neutral pH, with low cobalt leaching. The results of FT-IR and XPS verified the high structurally and chemically stability of LaCoO3 in PMS activation. Electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis suggested the generation of radical species, such as sulfate radicals (SO4 -) and hydroxyl radicals ( OH). Radical quenching experiments further revealed the responsibility of SO4 - as the dominant oxidant for CBZ oxidation. Ten products were detected via the oxidation of CBZ, with the olefinic double bond attacked by SO4 - as the initial step. Hydroxylation, hydrolysis, cyclization and dehydration were involved along the transformation of CBZ. The toxicity of CBZ solution was significantly reduced after treating by PMS/LaCoO3.