Water self-purification achieved via electron donation: Novel catalyst enables sustainable wastewater treatment

A groundbreaking study introduces a novel self-purifying water treatment system, featuring CoFe quantum dots embedded in graphene nanowires. This system efficiently removes over 70% of various emerging contaminants from wastewater within two hours, harnessing the internal energy of wastewater for purification. 

Emerging contaminants (ECs) in natural water bodies, including endocrine disruptors, pharmaceuticals, and synthetic dyes, pose a grave threat to public water safety. Current wastewater treatment technologies, while somewhat effective, fall short in efficiently removing these contaminants due to their hydrophobic nature and low-level concentrations.

In a recent study (doi:10.1016/j.ese.2023.100356) published in Volume 20 of the journal Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, researchers from Guangzhou University introduced a CoFeQds@GN-Nws catalyst system, which uniquely exploits the internal energy present in wastewater. The catalyst's surface features electron-rich and electron-poor micro-regions, fostering a self-purification mechanism. This process not only cleaves and oxidizes pollutants but also activates dissolved oxygen into superoxide radical, enhancing pollutant removal. Remarkably, the system operates at ambient temperature and pressure without external oxidants, achieving near-total removal of ECs. The study reveals the role of CoFe quantum dots in creating an unbalanced electron distribution, which is crucial for the catalyst's efficacy , driving the electron-donation effect of pollutants and the activation of dissolved oxygen into reactive oxygen species, an innovative purification process.

Professor Lai Lyu, the leading author of this research, stated, "The development of the CoFeQds@GN-Nws system marks a paradigm shift in wastewater treatment technologies. By leveraging the internal energy of wastewater and reducing dependence on external resources, this method not only addresses the challenge of ECs removal but also aligns with global sustainability goals."

The CoFeQds@GN-Nws system presents a transformative approach in water purification technology. By reducing the resource and energy demands of water treatment, the CoFeQds@GN-Nws system contributes to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to managing water pollution. This innovative technology aligns with global efforts towards carbon neutrality and emission reduction, reinforcing the commitment to sustainable water security solutions.

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References

DOI

10.1016/j.ese.2023.100356

Original Source URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ese.2023.100356

Funding information

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52350005, 52122009, 52070046, and 51838005), the Introduced Innovative Research and Development Team Project under the “Pearl River Talent Recruitment Program” of Guangdong Province (2019ZT08L387), and Basic and Applied Basic Research Project of Guangzhou (202201020163).

About Environmental Science and Ecotechnology

Environmental Science and Ecotechnology (ISSN 2666-4984) is an international, peer-reviewed, and open-access journal published by Elsevier. The journal publishes significant views and research across the full spectrum of ecology and environmental sciences, such as climate change, sustainability, biodiversity conservation, environment & health, green catalysis/processing for pollution control, and AI-driven environmental engineering. The latest impact factor of ESE is 12.6, according to the Journal Citation Report^TM 2022.