Enhanced peroxymonosulfate activation via heteroatomic doping defects of pyridinic and pyrrolic N in 2D N‑doped carbon nanosheets for BPA degradation

Understanding the role of intrinsic defects and nonmetallic heteroatom doping defects in activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and subsequently degrading endocrine-disrupting compounds is crucial for designing more efficient carbon catalysts. Therefore, we synthesized N-rich carbon nanosheets (NCs) through pyrolysis of a glutamic acid and melamine mixture and utilized them to activate PMS for bisphenol A (BPA) degradation. Different weight ratios of the above mixtures were allowed for manipulating NCs' defect level and N configuration. The reaction rate constant (k) was significantly positively correlated with the pyridinic and pyrrolic N content, and negatively and weakly positively correlated with graphite N and intrinsic defects, respectively. These findings suggest pyridinic and pyrrolic N, rather than graphitic N and intrinsic defects, enhance PMS activation to generate reactive oxygen species (specifically O•-2 and 1O2) and oxidize BPA. The NC-activated PMS system with the highest N content (17.9 atom%) demonstrated a remarkably high k (0.127 min-1) using minimal concentrations of PMS (0.4 mM) and NC (0.15 g/L), highlighting the system's efficiency. Excess halide anions led to significantly increased k with only a limited formation of trichloromethane (disinfection byproducts) in presence of 100 mM Cl-. This study offers novel perspectives on identifying catalytic sites within N-doped carbonaceous materials.