Efficient carbamazepine degradation by modified copper tailings and PMS system: Performance evaluation and mechanism

It is a green and sustainable path to establish cheap solid waste-based catalyst to establish peroxymonosulfate (PMS) catalytic system for the degradation of carbamazepine (CBZ) in water. In this study, durable copper tailing waste residue-based catalyst (CSWR) was prepared, and efficient CSWR/PMS system was constructed for catalytic degradation of CBZ for first time. The morphology and structure of CSWR changed from clumps to porous and loose amorphous by alkali leaching and medium temperature calcination. The reconstructed surface of the CSWR exposes more active sites promotes the catalytic reaction and increases the degradation rate of CBZ by more than 39.8 times. And the CSWR/PMS achieved a CBZ removal of nearly 99.99% in 20 min. In particular, perovskite-type iron-calcium compounds were formed, which stimulated the production of more HO• and SO4•− in the system. DFT calculation shows that CSWR has stronger adsorption energy and electron transfer ability to PMS molecules, which improved the degradation efficiency of the system. In general, this study proposed a means of high-value waste utilization, which provided a new idea for the preparation of solid waste based environmental functional materials and is expected to be widely used in practical wastewater treatment. The use of CSWR as a catalyst provides a sustainable and cost-effective solution for waste utilization. By repurposing copper tailing waste residue, which would otherwise contribute to environmental pollution, the study contributes to the concept of circular economy and reduces the reliance on virgin materials. In summary, the use of a durable CSWR-based catalyst in a PMS catalytic system for CBZ degradation presents an environmentally significant approach by repurposing waste, effectively removing a pharmaceutical pollutant, and providing a sustainable solution for water treatment.