Work

Thermophilic MoNxOy nanozyme for highly efficient degradation of phenolic pollutants

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: In industry phenolic wastewaters are generated at high temperature and required for cooling before post-treatment. The utilization of thermal energy for the treatment of phenolic wastewaters is often overlooked. Herein, we utilize thermophilic MoNxOy nanozyme for highly efficient degradation of phenolic pollutants at high temperature. Both the laccase-like and peroxidase-like activities of MoNxOy nanozyme increase with the temperature up to 90 °C. The efficiency of phenol oxidation at 60 °C is about 3-fold of that at 25 °C. Phenol is mineralized into CO2 and H2O, the removal of total organic carbon by MoNxOy + H2O2 is 97.0 ± 0.2% at 60 °C within 20 min. Moreover, MoNxOy nanozyme can also degrade other phenolic pollutants such as 2,4-dichlorophenol, pyrocatechol, 4-aminophenol and o-nitrophenol. The catalytic mechanism and phenol degradation route are also analyzed. This work provides a promising strategy for highly efficient treatment of phenolic wastewaters in an energy-saving way. Nanozymes have been identified as suitable candidates for pollutant degradation, but their thermoresponsive catalytic properties remain underexplored. Here, the authors report a MoNxOy nanozyme composed of Mo5N6 and MoO2 crystalline phases and apply it to catalyze the degradation of phenolic pollutants at high temperature, observing an increase in laccase-like and peroxidase-like activities up to 90 °C.

Source: Communications Chemistry

DOI: 10.1038/s42004-025-01765-y

Authors: Xiaomin Zhang, Peiqiang Lin, Yali Wu, Minfei Fan, Chunqiu Xia, Liangqia Guo

Institutions: Fuzhou University, Jilin Normal University

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Nanomaterials in Catalysis

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,690