Work

Enhanced Removal of the Antibiotic Sulfamethoxazole by a B-Doped Mesoporous Carbon Nanosheet/Peroxymonosulfate System: Characterization and Mechanistic Insights

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study investigates the activation mechanism of boron-doped carbon (BMC) catalysts for the degradation of the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMX) via persulfate (PMS) activation. The catalysts were synthesized using a sequential double-melting calcination method, resulting in mesoporous carbon nanosheets characterized by hierarchical macro-mesopores and atomically dispersed dual active sites. Comprehensive characterization was performed using BET, SEM, TEM, FT-IR, XPS, XRD, and Raman techniques. The optimized BMC catalyst demonstrated excellent performance, achieving complete removal of sulfamethoxazole (100%) and a high mineralization rate (~90%) within 45 min. Mechanistic analysis, including electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), revealed that the degradation predominantly follows a singlet oxygen (1O2)-dominated pathway. The system exhibited broad applicability to various pollutants, along with notable operational stability and robust resistance to common environmental interferents. Persulfate activation was primarily attributed to boron-active sites, while the hierarchical mesoporous structure facilitated both pollutant enrichment and catalytic efficiency.

Source: Compounds

DOI: 10.3390/compounds6010006

Authors: Thi-Hai Anh Nguyen, Tran Van Tam, Minh-Tri Nguyen-Le

Institutions: Hiroshima University, University of Ulsan, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Viện Môi trường và Tài nguyên

Language: English

Topic: Advanced oxidation water treatment

Subfield: Water Science and Technology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Clean water and sanitation, Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,207