Efficient degradation of sulfamethoxazole by CuCo LDH and LDH@fibers composite membrane activating peroxymonosulfate

In this study, bimetallic layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with carbonate interlayer construction were prepared. Various characterization methods were carried out to investigate phase structure, microscopic morphology, textural performance and near-surface element chemical states for catalysts. Meanwhile, corresponding layered double oxides (LDOs) were fabricated by calcination treatment and determined as metal oxide composite material. It was demonstrated that Cu1Co1 LDH possessed the superior PMS activation performance for SMX degradation and mineralization. And under the optimal reaction conditions of 0.24 mM PMS concentration, 60 mg L−1 Cu1Co1 LDH and unadjusted pH value (5.77) in sulfamethoxazole (SMX) solution (10 mg L−1), majority of SMX was eliminated within initial 5 min with degradation rate constant of 0.38230 min−1. Meanwhile, the highest %RSE value was achieved in Cu1Co1 LDH/PMS reaction system. Besides, the excellent stability and pH tolerance abilities of Cu1Co1 LDH in PMS activating process were determined as well. The involvement of responsible reactive species (i.e. SO4− OH, 1O2, O2− and H2O2) was detected. Therefore, the degradation of SMX in the Cu1Co1 LDH/PMS system was completed by synergistic process of free radicals and non-free radicals. With deeper consideration of the poor separation feature of Cu1Co1 LDH powder from reaction mixtures, LDH-based catalytic membrane (Cu1Co1 [email protected]) was further synthesized. And Cu1Co1 [email protected] showed highly effective and great reusability performance. Therefore, the strategy proposed in this study may give more opportunities for the preparation and practical application in wastewater treatment process of high efficiency catalysts.