Facile one-step preparation of Co and Ce doped TiO2 in visible light PMS activation for PAHs degradation

In this work, Co and Ce doped TiO2 (CoCeTi) with low content of Co and Ce was successfully prepared by a facile one-step sol-gel solvothermal process for activating Pemxymonosulfate (PMS) to degrade Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The phenanthrene degradation rate was 98.2% effectively in 15 min by CoCeTi (50.0 mg/ L) activation PMS (0.50 mmol/L) under visible light. SO4 center dot-, O-2(center dot-), h(+) and O-1(2) were verified as the dominant reactive species for PAHs degradation. The collective effect of CoCeTi, PMS and visible light irradiation has been discussed. The possible phenanthrene degradation pathway was proposed through intermediates analysis. CoCeTi composed of Co3O4, CeO2 and TiO2 was confirmed. Outstandingly, CoCeTi/PMS/visible light system has very low cobalt (0.036 mg/L) and cerium (0.27 mg/L) leaching. Due to CoCeTi having good activated PMS properties and other excellent characteristics, it has potential application for PAHs or other organic pollutants degradation.