Anchored atomic Ru-O<sub>4</sub> architecture enables ultra-effective Fe(VI) activation via avoiding Fe(VI) self-decay for water purification.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 40804045.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-025-62930-4 and PMC identifier 12350647.
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Abstract
Ferrate (Fe(VI)) is a prospective green oxidant owing to producing highly reactive Fe(IV)/Fe(V) for micropollutant degradation. However, the performance is significantly compromised by the severe side reaction of Fe(VI) self-decay with H<sub>2</sub>O, generating H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> byproduct that quickly quenches Fe(IV)/Fe(V). In this study, we synthesized a single-ruthenium-atom catalyst (RuGN) to activate Fe(VI) to selectively produce Fe(IV)/Fe(V)/Ru(V) for antibiotic degradation, with record-fast ciprofloxacin (CIP) degradation kinetics (~18.7 min<sup>-1</sup> g<sup>-1</sup> L). Since Fe(VI) preferentially reacts with RuGN rather than H<sub>2</sub>O, RuGN inhibits Fe(VI) self-decay, thus decreasing the H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> production. Moreover, RuGN consumes H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> (that quenches Fe(IV)/Fe(V)/Ru(V)) in the reaction system, which significantly improves the Fe(VI) utilization rate. Compared with other typical transition metal single-atom catalysts, RuGN exhibits moderate interactions with Fe(VI) and thus facilitates the electron transfer via Ru-O-Fe coordination to activate Fe(VI) for efficient CIP degradation. The RuGN/Fe(VI) system resists interference from background substances coexisting in water, achieving efficient CIP degradation under complex water chemistry conditions and in real water samples. The system can also efficiently degrade CIP in continuous-flow reactors. This work develops a promising strategy for improving Fe(VI) activation via regulating the interaction between the metal site and Fe(VI), holding immense potential for deep wastewater purification.