Highly efficient persulfate oxidation process activated with pre-magnetization Fe0

- Efficient persulfate oxidation process activated with pre-magnetization Fe0 was described.
- The effect of key parameters on pollutants degradation and rate was studied.
- The degradation performance enhanced even 119.6 folds and save 90% reagent compared with Fe0/PS.
- Pre-magnetization Fe0/PS is more promising and cost-effective for water and wastewater treatment.

Highly efficient persulfate oxidation process activated with pre-magnetization Fe0 (pre-magnetization Fe0/PS) was employed to degrade Orange anthraquinone dye at different Fe0 dosages (1-8 mmol/L), initial pH levels (3-10) and PS dosages (2-8 mmol/L). Pre-magnetization Fe0/PS possessed 8.4-119.6 folds enhancement in degradation rate and could widen pH range and save 90% Fe0 and PS dosage when compared with conventional Fe0/PS process. And this effect was ascribed to the change of Fe0 characteristics after pre-magnetization. This significant improvement was also observed on the degradation of many refractory contaminants of tartrazine, phenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), p-chlorophenol, chlorobenzene, nitrobenzene, p-nitrophenol and p-nitrchlorobenzene, which were 2.8-11.4 folds of those by Fe0/PS process. Pre-magnetization Fe0/PS is a more promising process since it does not require any change of the present water and wastewater treatment process, and does not need an extra energy source, costly materials, and complex equipment.