Activation of sodium persulfate by magnetic carbon xerogels (CX/CoFe) for the oxidation of bisphenol A: Process variables effects, matrix effects and reaction pathways.

An advanced oxidation process comprising sodium persulfate (SPS) and a novel magnetic carbon xerogel was tested for the degradation of bisphenol A (BPA), a model endocrine-disrupting compound. The catalyst, consisting of interconnected carbon microspheres with embedded iron and cobalt microparticles, was capable of activating persulfate to form sulfate and hydroxyl radicals at ambient conditions. The pseudo-first order degradation rate of BPA in ultrapure water (UPW) was found to increase with (i) increasing catalyst (25-75 mg/L) and SPS (31-250 mg/L) concentrations, (ii) decreasing BPA concentration (285-14,200 μg/L), and (iii) changing pH from alkaline to acidic values (9-3).