In recent years, refractory organic pollutants (ROPs) have been progressively detected in wastewater. Persulfates (peroxymonosulfate and peroxydisulfate)-based advanced oxidation processes (PS-AOPs) are efficient for ROPs degradation. Biochar and its composites, which have the dual advantages of adsorption and catalysis, have been widely used in PS-AOPs. Research advances on PS activation by biochar-based materials are systematically summarized, including biochar modifications, characterizations, radical determinations, and catalytic mechanism. Biochar modifications applied to PS-AOPs are introduced involving morphology regulation, heteroatomic doping, and metals loading. Characterization techniques are described to reveal the physicochemical properties of biochar-based catalysts. Various methods for radical determinations are discussed. The catalytic mechanism in the PS-AOPs is depicted from the point of radical pathway and non-radical pathway. Based on current knowledge, the perspectives and challenges that may be encountered in basic research and practical applications are put forward. This review offers novel insights into catalyst design and better understanding of PS-AOPs.

A review on persulfates activation by functional biochar for organic contaminants removal: Synthesis, characterizations, radical determination, and mechanism

Highly dispersed iron-doped biochar derived from sawdust for Fenton-like degradation of toxic dyes

In the field of modern microelectronic packaging materials, there is a great need for polymer-based composites with both excellent thermal conduction and flame retardancy properties. However, the enhancement efficiency of polymer-based composites is actually lower than the theoretically predicted values due to the phonon scattering in polymer matrix and the interfacial thermal resistance (Ritr) caused by the lack of continuous thermal conductive paths between the polymer matrix and fillers. In this work, a novel epoxy-based composite is reported by constructing 3D carbonized cellulose/boric acid ball mill modified boron nitride aerogel (CCA/m-BN) network using ice-templated combined with a customized directional freezing mold approach, and then infiltrating it with epoxy (EP) matrix. The fabricated CCA/m-BN/EP exhibits a significantly enhanced thermal conductivity (TC) up to 2.11 W/(m K) at a low m-BN loading of 9.6 wt% compared to that of pure PE (0.19 W/(m K)) and traditionally blended m-BN/EP composite (0.40 W/(m K)) as well that of CCACT/m-BN/EP composite (1.54 W/(m K)) obtained with ordinary directional freezing mold. In addition, CCA/m-BN/EP also exhibited a desired flame retardancy performance with considerable reductions being seen in peak of total heat release (THR) and total smoke production (TSP) compared with other composites. The obtained CCA/m-BN/EP composite with high TC and good flame retardancy properties is a highly prospective candidate as next-generation thermal dissipating material for electronic devices.

Ice template method assists in obtaining carbonized cellulose/boron nitride aerogel with 3D spatial network structure to enhance the thermal conductivity and flame retardancy of epoxy-based composites

Ruirui Sun

Papers

Neutralization of red mud using bio-acid generated by hydrothermal carbonization of waste biomass for potential soil application