LAUSR

Abstract Cost effective and environmental friendly biochar catalyst (SugBC900) with high catalytic activity toward peroxymonosulfate (PMS) was prepared by simple pyrolysis of sugarcane waste, and utilized for efficient degradation of organic pollutants. Taking advantages of high sp2 hybrid carbon content, large surface area and excellent electron transfer ability, the SugBC900 coupled with PMS presented far greater catalytic degradation ability toward bisphenol A (BPA) as model pollutant when compared to the SugBC700, SugBC800 and other carbonaceous catalysts. The oxidative species of 1O2 and O2•− were demonstrated to be dominant for catalytic degradation, and the role of SO4•− and •OH was minor. 20 mg/mL of BPA could be completely degraded with less than 60 min at pHs of 5.0–11.0, and at temperatures of 25–45 °C. And at the extremely acidic (pH of 1.0) or low temperature (10 °C) conditions, the degradation efficiencies could still reach more than 90%. The SugBC900 was also successfully utilized for the efficiently catalytic degradation of BPA and other organic pollutants in various real environmental water. Because of simple preparation by impregnating none of external elements, extremely low cost property, and robustness characteristic by having broad working conditions, the SugBC900 would have potential to be a good alternative to the conventional catalysts.