Activation of peroxymonosulfate by Co-N-doped biochar catalysts for effective degradation of tetracycline

Xuan Guo; Yuxuan Sun; Xuetong Zhai; Qing Qin; Yuhang Cui; Hongliang Guo; Song Han; Duu-Jong Lee

doi:10.1016/j.jtice.2026.106876

Activation of peroxymonosulfate by Co-N-doped biochar catalysts for effective degradation of tetracycline

Xuan Guo (Co-first Author)
, Yuxuan Sun (Co-first Author)
, Xuetong Zhai
, Qing Qin
, Yuhang Cui
, Hongliang Guo^*
, Song Han^*
, Duu-Jong Lee^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

Abstract

Background: Water pollution from excessive antibiotics has had a significant impact on the environment and human health. It is crucial to explore effective technologies for treating antibiotic wastewater. Advanced oxidation technology mediated by peroxymonosulfate (PMS) has played an irreplaceable role in the degradation of antibiotic contaminants.
Methods: In this paper, Co- and N- co-doped biochar-based catalysts (Co-N-BC) were fabricated using a one-step oxygen-limited pyrolysis method. The so-produced Co-N-BC was tested for PMS activation path to affect the degradation rates of tetracycline in a wastewater.
Significant findings: This study converts straw into porous biochar that exhibits high adsorption performance for tetracycline. Further loading of cobalt metals onto biochar endows it with catalytic properties, enabling efficient tetracycline degradation. The Co-N-BC/PMS efficiently degrades tetracycline via a synergistic function of both free and non-free radical species, with ¹O₂ being the most prominent reactive species. The Co-N-BC/PMS exhibits good resistance to interference from pH levels (3 to 11) and from substances commonly found in water, making it applicable to a broad range of pollutants. The Co-N-BC biochar-based catalyst, which is easy to prepare, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly, efficiently removes tetracycline via adsorption and catalytic degradation.
© 2026 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers.

Original language	English
Article number	106876
Journal	Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers
Volume	187
Online published	26 Jun 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtice.2026.106876
Publication status	Published - Oct 2026

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge funding supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province (LH2023E009), Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry (Heilongjiang University), Ministry of Education (KIM-O-2025003), and Hong Kong Jockey Club under the research work Hong Kong JC STEM Lab for Circular Bio-economy (grant No. 2023-0078).

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation

Research Keywords

Advanced oxidation processes
Cobalt-N-doped carbon
Heterogeneous catalyst
Peroxymonosulfate

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10.1016/j.jtice.2026.106876

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@article{0492f1940cd444a3ad60739f4375e132,

title = "Activation of peroxymonosulfate by Co-N-doped biochar catalysts for effective degradation of tetracycline",

abstract = "Background: Water pollution from excessive antibiotics has had a significant impact on the environment and human health. It is crucial to explore effective technologies for treating antibiotic wastewater. Advanced oxidation technology mediated by peroxymonosulfate (PMS) has played an irreplaceable role in the degradation of antibiotic contaminants. Methods: In this paper, Co- and N- co-doped biochar-based catalysts (Co-N-BC) were fabricated using a one-step oxygen-limited pyrolysis method. The so-produced Co-N-BC was tested for PMS activation path to affect the degradation rates of tetracycline in a wastewater. Significant findings: This study converts straw into porous biochar that exhibits high adsorption performance for tetracycline. Further loading of cobalt metals onto biochar endows it with catalytic properties, enabling efficient tetracycline degradation. The Co-N-BC/PMS efficiently degrades tetracycline via a synergistic function of both free and non-free radical species, with 1O2 being the most prominent reactive species. The Co-N-BC/PMS exhibits good resistance to interference from pH levels (3 to 11) and from substances commonly found in water, making it applicable to a broad range of pollutants. The Co-N-BC biochar-based catalyst, which is easy to prepare, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly, efficiently removes tetracycline via adsorption and catalytic degradation. {\textcopyright} 2026 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers.",

keywords = "Advanced oxidation processes, Cobalt-N-doped carbon, Heterogeneous catalyst, Peroxymonosulfate",

author = "Xuan Guo and Yuxuan Sun and Xuetong Zhai and Qing Qin and Yuhang Cui and Hongliang Guo and Song Han and Duu-Jong Lee",

year = "2026",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1016/j.jtice.2026.106876",

language = "English",

volume = "187",

journal = "Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers",

issn = "1876-1070",

publisher = "Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers",

}

Activation of peroxymonosulfate by Co-N-doped biochar catalysts for effective degradation of tetracycline. / Guo, Xuan (Co-first Author); Sun, Yuxuan (Co-first Author); Zhai, Xuetong et al.
In: Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers, Vol. 187, 106876, 10.2026.

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Activation of peroxymonosulfate by Co-N-doped biochar catalysts for effective degradation of tetracycline

AU - Guo, Xuan

AU - Sun, Yuxuan

AU - Zhai, Xuetong

AU - Qin, Qing

AU - Cui, Yuhang

AU - Guo, Hongliang

AU - Han, Song

AU - Lee, Duu-Jong

PY - 2026/10

Y1 - 2026/10

N2 - Background: Water pollution from excessive antibiotics has had a significant impact on the environment and human health. It is crucial to explore effective technologies for treating antibiotic wastewater. Advanced oxidation technology mediated by peroxymonosulfate (PMS) has played an irreplaceable role in the degradation of antibiotic contaminants. Methods: In this paper, Co- and N- co-doped biochar-based catalysts (Co-N-BC) were fabricated using a one-step oxygen-limited pyrolysis method. The so-produced Co-N-BC was tested for PMS activation path to affect the degradation rates of tetracycline in a wastewater. Significant findings: This study converts straw into porous biochar that exhibits high adsorption performance for tetracycline. Further loading of cobalt metals onto biochar endows it with catalytic properties, enabling efficient tetracycline degradation. The Co-N-BC/PMS efficiently degrades tetracycline via a synergistic function of both free and non-free radical species, with 1O2 being the most prominent reactive species. The Co-N-BC/PMS exhibits good resistance to interference from pH levels (3 to 11) and from substances commonly found in water, making it applicable to a broad range of pollutants. The Co-N-BC biochar-based catalyst, which is easy to prepare, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly, efficiently removes tetracycline via adsorption and catalytic degradation. © 2026 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers.

AB - Background: Water pollution from excessive antibiotics has had a significant impact on the environment and human health. It is crucial to explore effective technologies for treating antibiotic wastewater. Advanced oxidation technology mediated by peroxymonosulfate (PMS) has played an irreplaceable role in the degradation of antibiotic contaminants. Methods: In this paper, Co- and N- co-doped biochar-based catalysts (Co-N-BC) were fabricated using a one-step oxygen-limited pyrolysis method. The so-produced Co-N-BC was tested for PMS activation path to affect the degradation rates of tetracycline in a wastewater. Significant findings: This study converts straw into porous biochar that exhibits high adsorption performance for tetracycline. Further loading of cobalt metals onto biochar endows it with catalytic properties, enabling efficient tetracycline degradation. The Co-N-BC/PMS efficiently degrades tetracycline via a synergistic function of both free and non-free radical species, with 1O2 being the most prominent reactive species. The Co-N-BC/PMS exhibits good resistance to interference from pH levels (3 to 11) and from substances commonly found in water, making it applicable to a broad range of pollutants. The Co-N-BC biochar-based catalyst, which is easy to prepare, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly, efficiently removes tetracycline via adsorption and catalytic degradation. © 2026 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers.

KW - Advanced oxidation processes

KW - Cobalt-N-doped carbon

KW - Heterogeneous catalyst

KW - Peroxymonosulfate

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105043115363

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105043115363#tab=impact

U2 - 10.1016/j.jtice.2026.106876

DO - 10.1016/j.jtice.2026.106876

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 1876-1070

VL - 187

JO - Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers

JF - Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers

M1 - 106876

ER -

Activation of peroxymonosulfate by Co-N-doped biochar catalysts for effective degradation of tetracycline

Abstract

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Research Keywords

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