h i g h l i g h t sFeeAl composite oxide materials for BDE-47 degradation were successfully synthesized. Component and morphology of material were controlled by concentration of urea. Distribution of hydrodebromination products are analyzed over different material. Morphology and component might affect degradation pathway.
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a b s t r a c tA series of FeeAl composite oxides were synthesized by the hydrothermal method using different urea dosages and examined towards the degradation of 2,2 0 ,4,4 0 -tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) at 300 C. The as-prepared oxides were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The morphology and composition of the prepared materials could be regulated by controlling the urea concentration. Interestingly, these properties influenced the nature and amount of the hydrodebromination products generated during the degradation of BDE-47. The degradation of BDE-47 over the composite oxide prepared at a urea dosage of 3 mmol generated BDE-17 as the major isomer product, followed by BDE-28/33, -30, and -32, among the tribromodiphenyl ethers (tri-BDEs). Regarding the dibromodiphenyl ethers (di-BDEs) produced, the amount of the isomers decreased in the order of BDE-8/11 > BDE-7 > BDE-15 > BDE-10. And the BDE-1 among monobromodiphenyl was determined. In contrast, over the composite oxides prepared at urea dosages greater than 3 mmol, BDE-28/33 gradually become the major isomer product instead of BDE-17 among tri-BDEs. The amount of the other di-BDEs isomer such as BDE-15 and -10 approach to be comparable to that BDE-8/11. However, regardless of the urea dosage, BDE-47 converted into BDE-75 via an isomerization reaction. Based on these intermediate products identification, a possible hydrodebromination mechanism of BDE-47 over FeeAl composite oxide was comprehensively traced.