Refining metallic nano-copper by electron-rich black carbon for superior Fenton-like catalysis in water purification: The capacitive regulation of corrosive electron transfer

Transition metals are promising catalysts for environmental remediation. However, their low reactivity, poor stability and weak reusability largely limit practical applications. Herein, we report that the electron-rich dissolved black carbon (DBC) incorporated into the nanoscale zero-valent copper (nZVCu) can boost intrinsic reactivity, structural stability and cyclic reusability for superior peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation and pollutant degradation. A series of refractory pollutants can be effectively removed on the DBC/nZVCu, in comparison with the nZVCu reference. Hydroxyl radical (‧OH) is identified as the dominant reactive oxygen species by electron spin resonance (ESR) and chemical quenching tests, mediated by the metastable Cu(III) as the key reactive intermediate. The electron-rich DBC protects nanoscale Cu from oxidative corrosion to slow down the surface formation of inert CuO layer, rendered by the thermodynamically and dynamically capacitive regulation of corrosive electron transfer from metallic core. By this refining way, the conducive DBC improves the neighboring utilization of reactive electron during metal corrosion, oxidant activation, radical generation and pollutant degradation in Fenton-like catalysis. Our findings suggest that the ubiquitous DBC can be an efficient chelating agent to refine transition metals by serving as the surface deactivator and electron mediator, and take new insights into their environmental and agricultural geochemistry.