Activating Fenton-like reaction by hydrochars containing persistent free radicals derived from various pomelo peel components

Abstract To reveal the influence of the diversity of precursors on the formation of environmental persistent free radicals (EPFRs), pomelo peel (PP) and its physically divided portion, pomelo cuticle (PC), and white fiber (WF) were used as precursors to prepare six hydrochars: PPH-Fe, PCH-Fe, WFH-Fe, PPH, PCH, and WFH with and without Fe(III) addition during hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). PPH-Fe and WFH-Fe had higher EPFRs content (9.11 × 10 18 and 8.25 × 10 18 spins·g −1 ) compared to PPH and WFH (3.33 × 10 18 and 2.96 × 10 18 spins·g −1 ), indicating that iron-doping favored EPFRs formation. However, PCH-Fe had lower EPFRs content (2.78 × 10 18 spins·g −1 ) than PCH (7.95 × 10 18 spins·g −1 ), possibly due to excessive iron leading to the consumption of the generated EPFRs. For another reason, the required Fe(III) amount for EPFRs formation might vary among different precursors. PC has a lower concentration of phenolic compounds but 68–97% fatty acids, while WF and PP are rich in cellulose and lignin. In the Fenton-like reaction, oxygen-centered radicals of hydrochar played a significant role in activating H 2 O 2 and efficiently degrading bisphenol A (BPA). Mechanisms of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in hydrochar/H 2 O 2 system were proposed. EPFRs on hydrochar activate H 2 O 2 via electron transfer, creating ·OH and 1 O 2 , leading to BPA degradation. More importantly, the embedded EPFRs on the hydrochar's inner surface contributed to the prolonged Fenton-like reactivity of PPH-Fe stored for 45 days. This study demonstrates that by optimizing precursor selection and iron doping, hydrochars can be engineered to maximize their EPFRs content and reactivity, providing a cost-effective solution for the degradation of hazardous pollutants. Graphical abstract