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Nano Research 2023, 16(10): 12345-12356 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-023-6122-z
Research Article | Issue | Published: 12 September 2023

Sulfite activation by ZnO-encapsulated hydrogels for degradation of trimethylphenol

Show Author's Information Jiyuan Nai1,  Yaning Han1,2,  Shoudu Zhang3,  Youxun Li3( ),  Xiaowei Chen2,  Ren’an Wu4,  Li Wang4,  Lei Jiang1( )
Heavy Oil State Laboratory and Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
Departamento de Ciencia de los Materiales, Ingeniería Metalúrgica y Química Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Río San Pedro, Puerto Real (Cádiz), E-11510, Spain
Marine Science Research Institute of Shandong Province, Qingdao 266104, China
CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
Keywords:
hydrogel, degradation, nanocatalyst, ZnO nanoparticles, sulfite, 2,4,6-trimethylphenol
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Nanoparticles
Cite this article:
Nai J, Han Y, Zhang S, et al. Sulfite activation by ZnO-encapsulated hydrogels for degradation of trimethylphenol. Nano Research, 2023, 16(10): 12345-12356. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-023-6122-z
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Abstract Full text Electronic supplementary material About this article

Trimethylphenol is an organic toxic byproduct of industrial process, which is difficult to be eliminated through conventional degradation without harsh conditions. In this work, a sulfite-based oxidation process activated by ZnO-embedded hydrogel was studied for the degradation of 2,4,6-trimethylphenols in the ambient conditions. The ZnO/Na2SO3 oxidative system can effectively degrade trimethylphenol via the generation of radicals such as SO4·−, OH·, and SO3·−. The presence of hydrogel matrix facilitates the distribution and recyclability of ZnO catalysts while maintaining high degradation kinetics and little leaching of metal ions. Results suggest the promising potential of ZnO-hydrogel in wastewater treatment with good performance in terms of pH sensitivity, anion interference, recyclability, etc. The combination of ZnO catalysts, hydrogel, and sulfite-based advanced oxidation process may provide essential support for the current treatment of alkylated phenols with strong potential in the commercial scale-ups.


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Abstract
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Electronic supplementary material
About this article

Sulfite activation by ZnO-encapsulated hydrogels for degradation of trimethylphenol

Show Author's information Jiyuan Nai1, Yaning Han1,2, Shoudu Zhang3, Youxun Li3( ), Xiaowei Chen2, Ren’an Wu4, Li Wang4, Lei Jiang1( )
Heavy Oil State Laboratory and Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
Departamento de Ciencia de los Materiales, Ingeniería Metalúrgica y Química Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Río San Pedro, Puerto Real (Cádiz), E-11510, Spain
Marine Science Research Institute of Shandong Province, Qingdao 266104, China
CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China

Abstract

Trimethylphenol is an organic toxic byproduct of industrial process, which is difficult to be eliminated through conventional degradation without harsh conditions. In this work, a sulfite-based oxidation process activated by ZnO-embedded hydrogel was studied for the degradation of 2,4,6-trimethylphenols in the ambient conditions. The ZnO/Na2SO3 oxidative system can effectively degrade trimethylphenol via the generation of radicals such as SO4·−, OH·, and SO3·−. The presence of hydrogel matrix facilitates the distribution and recyclability of ZnO catalysts while maintaining high degradation kinetics and little leaching of metal ions. Results suggest the promising potential of ZnO-hydrogel in wastewater treatment with good performance in terms of pH sensitivity, anion interference, recyclability, etc. The combination of ZnO catalysts, hydrogel, and sulfite-based advanced oxidation process may provide essential support for the current treatment of alkylated phenols with strong potential in the commercial scale-ups.

Keywords: hydrogel, degradation, nanocatalyst, ZnO nanoparticles, sulfite, 2,4,6-trimethylphenol

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Publication history
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Acknowledgements

Publication history

Received: 14 February 2023
Revised: 16 May 2023
Accepted: 22 August 2023
Published: 12 September 2023
Issue date: October 2023

Copyright

© Tsinghua University Press 2023

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (No. ZR2017LB028), the Key Research and Development Program of Shandong Province (Nos. 2018GSF118032 and 2022CXGC020415), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities in China (No. 18CX02125A). Y. X. L. is grateful for the Research Subsidy Funds of Marine Science Research Institute of Shandong Province. X. W. C. is grateful for Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities of Spain with project reference number of PID2020-113809RB-C33 and by Junta de Andalucía (Spain) with reference number of PY18-2727.

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