Breakthrough in Antibiotic Contamination Treatment: MnSiO/Fe@C Catalyst Shows Promising Results

Strategic Insights -

Beijing University of Technology researchers have made a significant discovery in the treatment of antibiotic-contaminated water, engineered a hierarchically structured MnSiO/Fe@C bimetallic catalyst that exhibits excellent degradation efficiency and minimal metal leaching. This breakthrough has the potential to address the challenges of rapid Fe(II) consumption, high metal leaching, and limited activity in single-metal catalyst systems during peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation.

Key Takeaways:

  • The MnSiO/Fe@C catalyst integrates Fe nanospheres into vermiculite-derived layered manganese silicate, stabilized by a carbon network derived from pyrolyzed Fe-based metal-organic frameworks (Fe-MOFs).
  • Theoretical calculations reveal that Fe serves as a sustained electron donor, enhancing Mn sites' electron density to drive Mn(II/III/IV) and Fe(II/III) valence cycling, accelerating the cleavage of O-O bonds in PMS.
  • Under optimized conditions, complete sulfamethoxazole (SMX, 20 mg/L) degradation is achieved within 60 min (k = 0.0583 min), with negligible Fe/Mn leaching.
  • This work provides mechanistic insights and technical references for the rational design of bimetallic catalysts and the effective treatment of antibiotic-contaminated water.
  • Authors Yunfei Yang, Meng Xu, Peng Liu, Chuanjin Wang, Junshu Wu, Jinshu Wang, Yongli Li, and Hongyi Li from Beijing University of Technology contributed to this research.

Statistics:

  • 0.2 g/L catalyst, 0.2 g/L PMS, pH = 6.5 were used in the optimized conditions for complete sulfamethoxazole degradation
  • Complete sulfamethoxazole degradation was achieved within 60 minutes (k = 0.0583 min)
  • Negligible Fe/Mn leaching was observed under optimized conditions
  • The Journal of Hazardous Materials is the publisher of this research (Elsevier, Radarweg 29, 1043 Nx Amsterdam, Netherlands)

Sources:

  • Degradation of sulfamethoxazole by peroxymonosulfate catalytically activated with MnSiOx/Fe@C catalyst: synergistic mechanism and toxicity analysis. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2025;494:138741.
  • NewsRx. Beijing University of Technology Reports Findings in Obesity, Fitness and Wellness (Degradation of sulfamethoxazole by peroxymonosulfate catalytically activated with MnSiOx/Fe@C catalyst: synergistic mechanism and toxicity analysis). Chemicals & Chemistry. June 13, 2025; p 240.