Carbon-Doped Hexagonal Boron Nitride as a Catalyst for Efficient Degradation via Non-Radical Pathway

The escalating challenge of high-salinity organic wastewater has prompted the development of persulfate-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for the effective degradation of pollutants. This study presents the synthesis and application of a carbon-doped hexagonal boron nitride (C-hBN) catalyst, which is designed to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) efficiently under high-salinity conditions. The C-hBN catalyst is prepared through a two-step process using dopamine as the carbon source, resulting in a uniform doping of carbon and the formation of B-N-C bonds. The catalyst exhibits a significantly enhanced specific surface area and superior catalytic performance towards phenol degradation, with a rate constant of 0.74 min−1. Under high-salinity conditions, the C-hBN catalyst demonstrates robust resilience against common ions, maintaining high catalytic activity. The degradation process is primarily driven by a non-radical pathway, with singlet oxygen (1O2) identified as the key reactive species. This work provides valuable insights into the development of metal-free catalysts for environmental remediation and offers a promising strategy for the treatment of organic pollutants in high-salinity wastewater.