Preparation of Fe–N co-doped carbon-based catalysts and their influence on tetracycline degradation properties

A high-performance Fe-N co-doped carbon-based catalyst was prepared to activate PMS by a one-step pyrolysis using ferbam, melamine and sucrose. The best catalyst Fe-N/C exhibited high catalytic activity against PMS at an ultra-low catalyst dosage (50 mg L-1), and the TC decomposition rate reached 92.3% within 30 min. The results demonstrated that graphite N, pyridine N, Fe0 and Fe3C were the main active substances for catalyzing PMS. Free radical quenching analysis and EPR experiments further proved that the O2˙- served as the main active oxygen species. Finally, the environmental hazard of the intermediate product was studied by ECOSAR system.