Suh, Sae In Woo, Heesoo Song, So-Yeon Park, Dongjoo Ahn, Yong-Yoon Kim, Eun Ju Lee, Hongshin Kim, Dong-Wan Lee, Changha Ok, Yong Sik Lee, Jaesang 2024-01-12T06:34:52Z 2024-01-12T06:34:52Z 2023-06-08 2023-08 0926-3373 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/79866 In this study, we explored the correlation between the catalytic activity of UK Biochar Research Center biochars (BCs) and their physicochemical properties, suggesting a potential role of endogenous iron in promoting their persulfate activation capability by heat treatment. A steady improvement in the persulfate activation efficiency with increasing annealing temperature was observed exclusively for iron-containing BCs (e.g., sewage sludge (SS) BCs). Along with increasing the Brunauer？Emmett？Teller surface area, thermal annealing formed carbon-wrapped iron particles on the SS BC surfaces, produced crystalline elemental iron and iron carbides, and caused an sp3-to-sp2 conversion in the carbon phase. Comparing the annealed SS BCs in terms of the open circuit potential shift, electrical conductivity, and thermodynamic binding parameters showed that the heat-initiated modification enhanced the electron transfer-mediating capacity and surface affinity toward persulfate, which led to the beneficial effect of annealing on the carbocatalytic activity of iron-containing BCs for non-radical persulfate activation. English Elsevier BV Comparative assessment of biochars from multiple sources based on persulfate activation capability: Role of iron component in enhancing thermal treatment effect on carbocatalytic performance Article 10.1016/j.apcatb.2023.122647 1 Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, v.330 Applied Catalysis B: Environmental 330 N scie scopus 001054876200001 Chemistry, Physical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Chemical Chemistry Engineering Article CATALYTIC-OXIDATION SINGLET OXYGEN ORGANIC POLLUTANTS HYDROXYL RADICALS CARBON PERSISTENT FREE-RADICALS PEROXYMONOSULFATE DEGRADATION GRAPHITIZATION ACID Biochar Persulfate activation Thermal annealing Carbon-encapsulated iron Non -radical oxidation