Title Enhanced sulfate radical generation through bimetallic Ni–Cu catalysts synthesized in a fluidized bed for rapid RB5 degradation
Authors Družaitė, P ; Martuzevičius, D ; Ha, T.H ; Lu, M.C
DOI 10.1007/s13762-026-07162-9
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Is Part of International journal of environmental science and technology.. New York : Springer. 2026, vol. 23, iss. 5, art. no. 381, p. 1-15.. ISSN 1735-1472. eISSN 1735-2630
Keywords [eng] Advanced-oxidation process ; Chemical precipitation ; Fluidized-bed reactor ; Reactive black 5 ; Sulfate radical
Abstract [eng] The treatment of dye-containing wastewater remains a significant environmental challenge, as persistent azo dyes such as Reactive Black 5 (RB5) are resistant to conventional oxidation and biological processes. In this study, we propose a Fe-free advanced oxidation strategy based on sodium persulfate activation using Ni–Cu bimetallic catalysts synthesized via fluidized-bed homogeneous crystallization (FBHC), with a systematic comparison to catalysts prepared by conventional jar-test precipitation (JAR). The novelty of this work lies in coupling FBHC synthesis with persulfate activation to produce highly reactive, amorphous Ni–Cu catalysts capable of rapid pollutant degradation under near-neutral conditions, thereby overcoming the sludge generation and pH limitations associated with traditional Fenton systems. Using 100 mg L−1 RB5 as a model contaminant, the FBHC-derived catalyst achieved > 90% decolorization within 10 min and 70.7% TOC removal within 5 min, significantly outperforming the JAR-derived material. Kinetic analysis indicated that the degradation followed the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model, suggesting a surface-controlled reaction pathway. Radical scavenging and EPR analyses identified SO4·− and 1O2 as the dominant reactive species, with minor contributions from ·OH and negligible involvement of O2·−. Overall, this study demonstrates that (i) FBHC is an effective method for fabricating highly reactive bimetallic catalysts and (ii) the Ni–Cu/persulfate system represents a rapid, Fe-free oxidation process operable under mild pH conditions, offering a promising strategy for efficient and scalable textile wastewater treatment.
Published New York : Springer
Type Journal article
Language English
Publication date 2026
CC license CC license description