Enhanced peroxymonosulfate activation by highly magnetic FeCo-CoFe2O4 biphasic fibers for norfloxacin degradation

Transition metal-based non-homogeneous materials have excellent activation properties for persulfates (peroxymonosulfate and peroxydisulfate, abbreviated as PMS and PDS). In this study, FeCo-CoFe2O4 (FC-CFO) biphasic fibers were prepared using the electrospinning technique and a stepwise heat-treatment. The prepared fibers possessed magnetic separation properties (Ms = 91.7 emu/g) and achieved a 93.8 % degradation efficiency of norfloxacin (NFX) in 10 min. Quenching experiment, ESR spectrum, and intermediate product revealed that radical •SO4− and non-radical 1O2 species made major contribution to the FC-CF-500/PMS/NFX system. XPS spectrum and ESR spectrum of oxygen vacancy suggested the abundant oxygen vacancies generated in FC-CFO-500 fibers which could trigger the generation of 1O2. Those findings may demonstrate a reference preparation method of electrospinning nanofibers with an improved PMS activation ability.