Eco-Friendly Lignin-Based N/C Cocatalysts for Ultrafast Cyclic Fenton-Like Reactions in Water Purification via Graphitic N-Mediated Interfacial Electron Transfer

Abstract

Herein, an eco-friendly lignin-based N-doped cocatalyst (N/C) was fabricated to enhance Fenton-like oxidation capacity. The N/ C-assisted Fe(III)/H 2 O 2 system showed ultrafast pollutant oxidation activity via an accelerated Fe(III)/Fe(II) cycle, exhibiting 16.9 times better caffeine removal efficiency than equivalent quantities of the classical Fenton system. N/C cocatalysts exhibited extraordinary stability and generality in the decontamination and disinfection of complex solution matrixes. Both experimental and theoretical calculation results demonstrated that graphitic N was the active site on N/C cocatalysts, which could elevate the reactivity of Fe(III) and make the interfacial electron transfer more feasible. In the N/C-mediated Fe(III)/H 2 O 2 system, an increase in electron transfer on the surface of N/C facilitated the formation of surface-bound Fe(II), thereby activating H 2 O 2 to produce hydroxyl radicals, the main active species for contaminant degradation. Notably, practical continuous water purification could be achieved by assembling N/C into fixed-bed reactors or membrane treatment units. These findings provide novel insights into N-doped carbonaceous cocatalysts and a promising green strategy for practical water treatment.

Chitosan-Coated Lignin Nanoparticles Enhance Adsorption and Proliferation of Alcanivorax borkumensis at the Hexadecane–Water Interface

“…borkumensis is used as a model bacterium because its well-documented native presence at oil spill sites. ,, We use lignin and silver as model NPs which respectively represent an eco-friendly plant-based material and an antimicrobial metallic material. On the one hand, lignin is one of the most abundant biopolymers in nature and a byproduct of pulp and paper industries. , Due to its plant origin, lignin is widely available in nature, and it has been shown to have low cytotoxicity in cells. , On the other hand, silver NPs are well-known broad-spectrum antimicrobials and show high cytotoxicity toward living cells. , By using lignin and silver NPs as model nanomaterials with divergent properties, we seek to understand the role of NP composition, surface charge, and dispersion salinity in altering the growth rate of A. borkumensis and its affinity for the oil–water interface.…”

“…On the one hand, lignin is one of the most abundant biopolymers in nature and a byproduct of pulp and paper industries. 29,30 Due to its plant origin, lignin is widely available in nature, and it has been shown to have low cytotoxicity in cells. 30,31 On the other hand, silver NPs are well-known broadspectrum antimicrobials and show high cytotoxicity toward living cells.…”

“…29,30 Due to its plant origin, lignin is widely available in nature, and it has been shown to have low cytotoxicity in cells. 30,31 On the other hand, silver NPs are well-known broadspectrum antimicrobials and show high cytotoxicity toward living cells. 32,33 By using lignin and silver NPs as model nanomaterials with divergent properties, we seek to understand the role of NP composition, surface charge, and dispersion salinity in altering the growth rate of A. borkumensis and its affinity for the oil−water interface.…”

Tailored a Multiple Tandem Reaction System for Microalga Cascade Utilization

“…Today, energy shortage and environmental pollution problems are increasingly serious, and sustainable development is confronting enormous obstacles. − Accelerating the development and utilization of green, environmentally friendly, and renewable biomass resources not only solves the energy shortage caused by the massive consumption of fossil fuels but also ameliorates the increasingly serious environmental pollution problem, which provides a feasible measure to solve the above dilemma. , Moreover, the key to achieve this goal is to broaden the pathway and improve the efficiency of biomass resources utilization.…”