Selective Removal of Phenolic Compounds by Peroxydisulfate Activation: Inherent Role of Hydrophobicity and Interface ROS

and three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide (rGOF) is designed for peroxydisulfate (PDS) activation. This heterogeneous PDS activation system can completely degrade hydrophobic PCs within 30 min. By investigating the hydrophobic properties of eight representative PCs, a positive correlation between the hydrophobicity of PC and the reaction kinetics is reported for the first time. The selective removal stems from the strong interaction between highly hydrophobic PCs and the catalyst. Moreover, the mechanism investigation shows that the degradation reaction is triggered by interface reactive oxygen species (ROS). Our study reveals that the selective degradation of organic pollutants by PDS activation depends on the hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties of the pollutant and catalyst. The reported results provide new insights into a highly selective and efficient PDS activation system for organic pollutant removal.