Selective recovery of gallium (Ga) is becoming increasingly important because of its strategic role in advanced electronics and the limited availability of primary Ga resources. Inspired by the intrinsic affinity of aluminosilicate clays for Ga, a two-step strategy combining NH4Cl ion-exchange with supercritical CO2 exfoliation to activate nonexpandable illite for Ga(III) capture was developed. This treatment effectively disrupted the K+-stabilized interlayer structure and transformed bulk illite into thin nanosheets while largely preserving the lateral dimensions. Consequently, ∼96% of the nanosheets had thicknesses below 20 nm, and ∼80% were thinner than 15 nm. This structural transformation markedly increased the exposure of adsorption-active sites, resulting in an enhanced Ga(III) adsorption capacity of 44.82 ± 3 mg/g. Mechanistic investigations showed that Ga(III) adsorption involved surface hydroxyl groups and Si/Al–O moieties, with Al–OH groups directly participating in Ga binding. Moreover, Ga(III) uptake was proportional to the consumption of surface hydroxyl groups. Hydroxyl sites on the edge/prismatic (010) facets exhibited a stronger binding affinity for Ga species than those on the basal (0 0 1) facets. These findings reveal a facet-dependent cooperative adsorption mechanism in which the negatively charged basal surfaces promote the electrostatic preconcentration of Ga hydroxo species, while the edge/prismatic sites provide stronger coordination stabilization. This structure-directed activation of naturally abundant illite provides important mechanistic insights for the rational design of advanced clay-based adsorbents.

To address the technical bottleneck of declining hydrophobicity in finely ground minerals that leads to low recovery of traditional hydrocarbon oil collectors, this study utilized computational simulations to design and synthesize a novel collector. Simulation calculations showed that dodecyl xanthogenic acid (DXA-C12) had a comprehensive adsorption effect on both the "basal" and "edges" of molybdenite. Micro-flotation tests showed that DXA-C12 had significant flotation advantages for micro-fine grained molybdenite compared with the traditional kerosene and xanthate combined collector. DXA-C12 interacted with the "basal" and "edges" of molybdenite through hydrophobic and chemical forces, respectively. The DXA-C12 carbon chain drove the interaction with the "basal" and adsorbed in a tiled form. In contrast, C=S supplied electrons to the Mo atoms in "edges", forming adsorption in an upright form. For the actual micro-fine grained molybdenum ore with a particle size of -38 mu m accounted for 97 % and Mo grade of about 4.00 %, using DXA-C12 as the collector could obtain the concentrate with Mo grade and recovery of 39.099 % and 99.68 %, respectively. The study provided a novel collector for micro-fine grained molybdenum ore, and had an important reference significance for the development of other new types of collectors.

The flotation separation of talc and molybdenite has always been a challenging issue and a research hotspot in mineral processing due to their similar natural hydrophobicity. In the study, gellan gum (GG) was first used as a novel depressant of talc for the efficient flotation separation of molybdenite and talc in the presence of sodium butyl xanthate (SBX) as a collector. The flotation behavior of talc and molybdenite was systematically investigated via micro-flotation experiments, and the mechanism for the selective flotation separation of molybdenite and talc in the system of GG and SBX was analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Zeta potential, contact angle measurements, adsorption capacity tests, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS). GG exhibited a significantly stronger depressing effect on talc than on molybdenite, while the subsequent addition of SBX enhanced molybdenite floatability, the concentrate with Mo recovery of 91.8% and Mo grade of 50.07% was obtained in the flotation test of artificially mixed minerals, which confirmed the good selectivity of GG for the depression of talc. The adsorption of GG on the surfaces of molybdenite and talc was due to hydrophobic interaction and chemisorption, respectively. In addition, SBX hardly adsorbed onto the talc surface, while chemisorption dominated the adsorption of SBX on the molybdenite surface. Therefore, the pre-adsorbed GG on the surface of molybdenite was efficiently eliminated by SBX, the hydrophobicity of molybdenite was recovered and enhanced via the competitive adsorption of SBX. The study provided a green depressant of talc for the efficient flotation separation of molybdenite and talc, which has a great potential for industrial application in the efficient exploitation and utilization of talc-type molybdenum ore.

Gallium (Ga) is a scarce critical metal whose recovery from complex aqueous streams requires selective and scalable adsorbents. Here a direct-ink-written hydrogel that integrates exfoliated montmorillonite nanosheets (MMTNS) with sodium alginate/carboxymethyl cellulose (SA/CMC), forming a hierarchically lamellar, macroporous 3D network (3D-MMTNS-HG) stabilized by Ca-2(+) crosslinking was reported. XRD confirms retention of the clay lattice with an expanded (001) basal spacing (d(0)(0)(1): 1.22 -> 1.50 nm). FTIR/XPS/EDS indicate interfacial complexation between Ga(III) and -OH/-COO- groups, interactions with siloxane sites, and cation exchange involving Na+/Ca-2(+). At pH 3 (to prevent Ga(OH)(3) precipitation), batch adsorption follows pseudo-second-order kinetics (R-2 > 0.95) and is best described by the Langmuir isotherm, yielding a maximum capacity of 74.42 mg/g and an affinity constant K-L = 0.112 (L)/mg. In quaternary ion matrices, incorporation of MMTNS significantly enhances Ga(III) selectivity relative to MMTNS-free hydrogels. Fixed-bed experiments show tunable breakthrough as a function of influent concentration, flow rate, and bed mass; the Thomas model accurately predicts effluent profiles. The column is readily regenerated with 1 M HCl and maintains high uptake over successive cycles (cumulative adsorbed mass: 76.12 -> 59.64 mg from cycle 1-3), enabling efficient Ga recovery upon elution. This additively manufactured, clay-reinforced hydrogel provides a shape-programmable and chemically robust platform for selective Ga(III) capture and recovery, offering a practical route toward critical-metal circularity.

A hierarchical adsorbent based on montmorillonite nanosheets/chitosan (MMTNS/CS) composites was prepared using an ultrasonic exfoliation-assisted self-assembly strategy. Under the combined effects of shear force and cavitation, bulk montmorillonite (MMT) was exfoliated into single- and few-layer nanosheets. The specific surface area increased from 61.64 to 105.06 m2/g, exposing more surface-active sites. The CS chains subsequently acted as molecular linkers to induce the assembly of MMTNS through hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions, forming a tunable three-dimensional layered porous architecture. The pore structures of the composites were effectively controlled by adjusting the MMTNS-to-CS mass ratio. Among the prepared samples, MMTNS/CS-3 exhibited the highest adsorption capacity for 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), reaching 510.56mg/g. The adsorption kinetics, isotherm behavior, and pH-dependent behavior suggested that the removal of 2,4-DCP was associated with the synergistic effects of hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interaction, and pore confinement within the layered porous network. This study provides an effective strategy for constructing clay nanosheet-based adsorbents through biopolymer-assisted assembly. It also highlights their potential for the removal of phenolic pollutants from water.

In previous studies, the depressant M-DEP has been proven to have excellent selectivity in depressing molybdenite. In the study, the dispersion and aggregation behaviors of molybdenite particles with talc or chalcopyrite either in the co-phase or in heterogeneous phases were investigated through turbidity tests and fractal dimension measurements. The Extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (EDLVO) theoretical calculation further clarifies that the dispersion and aggregation behaviors of the particles were mainly regulated by the hydrophobic interaction energy and the electrostatic force energy. The surface hydrophobicity of chalcopyrite was relatively strong, while the electrostatic effect was relatively weak. The surface electrostatic effect could be enhanced after the addition of M-DEP, which promoted the chalcopyrite particles to change from aggregation to dispersion. The hydrophobic and electrostatic effects of molybdenite and talc particles were relatively strong. M-DEP could weaken the hydrophobic effect and enhance the electrostatic effect of molybdenite, thereby promoting the dispersion of the particles. The surface action energy of the talc was basically not affected by M-DEP. The results of particle settling behavior and surface energy calculation indicated that the novel depressant M-DEP could improve the particle aggregation during the flotation separation process of molybdenite with interfering minerals.

The efficient recovery of fine molybdenite particles remains a significant challenge in mineral processing, largely attributed to the remarkably enhanced hydrophilicity as particle size reduces. Conventional non-polar collectors show limited effectiveness in floating such fine fractions. In the present study, a novel composite collector made of poly ethylene glycol 600 monooleate (PEG600MO) and emulsified kerosene was designed to boost the flotation of molybdenite particles smaller than 20 mu m, relying on the synchronous interfacial modulation of both faces and edges. Flotation test results indicated that this composite collector outperformed individual collectors, significantly improving the flotation efficiency of fine molybdenite particles. The results of contact angle, electrokinetic measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), adsorption capacity and electrochemical tests demonstrated that PEG600MO was inclined to adsorb on molybdenite edges, promoting emulsified kerosene to adsorb on edges through hydrophobic interactions, meanwhile PEG600MO and emulsified kerosene co-adsorbed on faces physically. The differential adsorption of various components significantly improved the hydrophobicity of both faces and edges. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results confirmed that the hydroxyl groups in PEG600MO underwent chemical interactions with Mo atoms on molybdenite. This work developed an effective composite collector and offered a new perspective on the design of flotation reagents for the efficient recovery of fine molybdenite particles.

Background:Breast cancer threatens women's health, and predicting its prognosis facilitates early therapeutic intervention. This study aims to develop radiomics models and combined models based on digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) for predicting breast cancer prognosis and conducting interpretability analysis. Methods:Patients pathologically diagnosed with invasive breast cancer at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center from January 2019 to August 2020 were retrospectively included and randomly divided into a training set and a testing set at a 7:3 ratio. An independent external validation set was constructed using invasive breast cancer patients who visited Ruijin Hospital and The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from December 2021 to August 2022. Disease-free survival (DFS) served as the endpoint. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify prognosis-associated conventional imaging features on DBT. Radiomics features were extracted from the maximum layer of lesions in the craniocaudal (CC) and mediolateral oblique (MLO) views of DBT images. Selected radiomics features were incorporated into the Cox proportional hazards model to predict prognosis and a combined model in conjunction with conventional imaging features was constructed. Stratified assessment was conducted for evaluating the model performance by comparing the C-index value, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), decision curve analysis (DCA), and calibration curves. Nomograms and Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted to stratify the disease risks. Additionally, SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) were employed to carry out the interpretability analysis. Results:A total of 395 patients were enrolled in the training and testing cohorts, whereas the validation cohort had 140 patients. High-density masses (P=0.01) and axillary adenopathy (P<0.001) were identified as independent factors associated with DFS. Eight radiomics features were ultimately incorporated into the model. In the validation set, the radiomics model exhibited the C-index value of 0.71, while that of the combined model was 0.76. Based on the combined model for stratified prediction, the AUC values for predicting 1-, 2-, and 5-year DFS in the testing set were 0.73, 0.74, and 0.76. In the validation set, the AUC values for predicting 1- and 2-year DFS were 0.74 and 0.76. Both DCA curves and calibration curves confirmed the clinical utility of the combined model. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that the combined model stratified patients into high-risk and low-risk groups (P values were <0.001 in the training set, 0.03 in the testing set, and 0.03 in the external validation set). SHAP analysis revealed that radiomics features derived from wavelet transformation and those from the CC view contributed more substantially and carried higher weights among the selected features. Conclusions:Radiomics based on DBT have potential to predict breast cancer prognosis in terms of short-term DFS, with the combined model exhibiting superior efficacy. SHAP analysis is conducive to mining imaging biomarkers related to prognosis.

The preparation of high-performance and low-cost catalysts is crucial for achieving efficient pollutant removal by sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation processes. Metallurgical slag, rich in active metals and their oxides, makes it an ideal choice for preparing bimetallic catalysts for AOPs. Herein, the cobalt-manganese spinel (CRS600) catalyst was prepared using cobalt-rich slag (CRS) as raw material through a stepwise calcination process, and it was employed to activate peroxymonosulfate for the degradation of dye wastewater. As the calcination temperature increased from 400 degrees C to 1000 degrees C, the morphology of CRS evolved from flower-like microspheres to a regular polyhedron, accompanied by a decrease in the Co/Mn ratio. The degradation rate of Rhodamine B (RhB) by CRS600 catalyst reached 98.01 % within 15 min and the rate constant was 0.3644 min-1. Particularly, CRS600 processed a wide pH range (3-10), strong resistance to interferences, and good structural stability. In the continuous-flow experiment, 10950 mL of RhB was effectively removed over a long period of 228 h. Density functional theory (DFT) and constitutive relationship revealed that Mn active site was the dominant factor in activating peroxymonosulfate to generate SO4 center dot- and center dot OH radicals for pollutant degradation. The results of life cycle assessment indicated that the preparation process of the MnCo2O4 catalyst has minimal impact on environmental indicators including ozone-depletion potential, eutrophication potential, and acidification potential. This study will be helpful in realizing the resource utilization of metallurgical slag and in providing new ideas for the development of efficient catalysts.

Electromagnetic pollution does great harm to human health, production, and national security. Electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption materials are the most promising way to solve electromagnetic pollution. Cobalt oxide-based absorbers have been widely studied because of their rich dissipation and excellent absorption performance. Herein, we prepared MnCo2O4 absorber by a solid-state roasting method, and the surface of MnCo2O4 was coated with flake-like graphene by ball milling, then the MnCo2O4@Graphene composites with heterogeneous interface was successfully synthesized. The results of XRD, SEM and TEM show that the spinel MnCo2O4 with high crystallinity, and the crystal lattice structure and surface morphology of MnCo2O4 can be improved by ball milling process, the EMW absorption capacity can be significantly enhanced. The synergy of MnCo2O4 and graphene in composites had better incidence and impedance matching, the reflection loss(RL) value is -40.2 dB at 5.8 GHz when the thickness is 4.0 mm.

Amine ether was initially used as a novel collector for the direct flotation of quartz to separate the quartz from feldspar under weak alkaline conditions. The flotation results demonstrated that the recovery differences between quartz and feldspar both decreased with the increase in the carbon chain length and number of alkoxy groups of amine ether. A recovery difference of nearly 90 % could be achieved between them at a pulp pH of 8.0 with dodecylamine polyoxyethylene ether (AC1210) serving as the collector. The results of the mechanism analysis demonstrated that AC1210 was effectively adsorbed on the quartz surface via electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonding. However, the electrostatic repulsion between the K+ on the feldspar surface and positively charged NH+ groups of AC1210 weakened the adsorption of AC1210 on the surface of feldspar. The difference in the adsorption capacity of AC1210 between the quartz and feldspar promoted the selective direct flotation of quartz from the mixture of quartz and feldspar.

Chalcopyrite and molybdenite present challenges in flotation separation due to their similar floatability. In this study, ozone micro-nano bubble was employed to oxidize chalcopyrite and molybdenite, altering their surface properties to facilitate them separation via flotation. The flotation results demonstrated a significant reduction in the recovery of chalcopyrite through ozone micro-nano bubble oxidation, while molybdenite remained unaffected. The concentrates with the Mo recovery remained steady at 84 % and Cu recovery below 9 % were achieved in flotation experiments of the artificially mixed ores with various mass ratios of chalcopyrite and molybdenite. Analysis of the results from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), zeta potential, and contact angle measurements indicated that the surface of chalcopyrite was oxidized to form metal oxides and hydroxides after ozone micro-nano bubble oxidation, thereby decreasing its floatability. In contrast, the oxidation products of molybdenite dissolved in the pulp, preserving its original surface and floatability. Additionally, experimental results confirmed that micro-nano bubbles exhibited superior oxidation effectiveness and rate than those of conventional bubbles. In summary, ozone micro-nano bubble oxidation presented a promising green alternative to traditional depressants for the efficient separation of copper and molybdenum sulfide ore.

An efficient adsorbent for Ga(III) recovery was developed by applying the geochemical principles of Ga mineralization, using Al-rich clay minerals with a natural affinity for Ga as the raw material. Sodium alginate (SA) facilitated the cross-linked assembly of montmorillonite nanosheets (MMTNS), forming a three-dimensional structured hydrogel. This was achieved through electrostatic interactions between-OH groups on the edges of MMTNS and -COO- groups in SA, as well as the complexation of Ca2+ and -COO- groups. The resulting hydrogel maintained a porous structure while preserving the layered arrangement of MMTNS, significantly enhancing the adsorption capacity for Ga(III). Thermodynamic analysis revealed that Ga(III) adsorption was both endothermic and spontaneous. The Elovich model indicated that heterogeneous chemisorption dominated the adsorption process. Ga(III) adsorption followed the Langmuir isotherm model, indicating that it was controlled by specific binding sites and occurred via uniform monolayer adsorption, with a maximum capacity of 85.95 mg/g. The adsorption mechanism involved ion exchange interactions, chelation of functional groups, and electrostatic interactions. After 4 cycles, the hydrogel retained an adsorption capacity of 65.4 mg/g. Additionally, the hydrogel demonstrated good selectivity for Ga(III) in a quaternary ion solution system. This hydrogel shows significant potential as a candidate for Ga(III) recovery.

This study explores the efficient preparation of few -layered or monolayered kaolinite (K) nanosheets using supercritical gasification exfoliation technology, aiming to enhance their adsorption capacity for Ga(III). Crystal structure and morphology analysis indicated that the exfoliated K nanosheets maintained an excellent hexagonal lamellar crystal shape, with significantly reduced thickness (-10 nm) while maintaining an unchanged lateral dimension (400 - 600 nm). The exfoliation mechanism primarily relies on the considerable impact force generated by the rapid expansion of supercritical carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) volume during fast pressure release, which facilitates exfoliation between K layers where the interlayer hydrogen bonds have been disrupted by potassium acetate. Batch adsorption experiments demonstrated a significant improvement in the removal rate of exfoliated K for Ga(III), increasing from 50.66 % to 80.47 % under the conditions of a Ga(III) concentration of 15 mg/L and an adsorbent dosage of 0.4 g/L, attributed to the exposure of numerous active sites. Kinetic and isotherm fitting results indicated a monomolecular adsorption process primarily controlled by chemical adsorption, with a maximum theoretical adsorption capacity of 32.90 mg/g for Ga(III). In multivariate mixed adsorption experiments, exfoliated K exhibited good adsorption selectivity for Ga(III), primarily through chemical adsorption of aluminum hydroxide (Al - OH) functional groups and electrostatic adsorption of silicon oxide (Si - O). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further demonstrated that the bidentate adsorption coordination of K with Ga(III) exhibits higher stability compared to monodentate adsorption coordination, indicating that the adsorption process is mainly dominated by bidentate adsorption. Consequently, the supercritical gasification exfoliation technology, as a recyclable green process, offers efficient exfoliation of K, holding significance implications for the high -value and high -efficiency utilization of K resources, as well as for establishing a green, low -carbon, and recycling development economic system.

Mineral flotation plays a pivotal role in mineral processing. The oxidation of sulfide ores can alter the surface properties of minerals, thereby optimizing their separation efficiency. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the various oxidation methods applied in sulfide mineral flotation, including chemical oxidation, electrochemical oxidation, biological oxidation, thermal pretreatment, and plasma treatment. Additionally, it discusses the impact of mineral oxidation on flotation performance, focusing on modifications to surface properties such as the formation of oxidation products, changes in zeta potential, and alterations in hydrophobicity, as well as the degradation of flotation reagents and changes in reagent adsorption. However, challenges remain in the oxidation-flotation separation of sulfide minerals, including insufficient control precision of the oxidation process, environmental and cost concerns associated with certain oxidation methods, and a lack of in-depth research into the oxidation-flotation mechanism. Future advancements in oxidative flotation will focus on intelligent monitoring, precise control, composite oxidation systems, and in situ analysis to understand surface microvariations and oxidation-product relationships. Cost control will rely on the use of low-cost oxidants, durable electrodes, and energy-efficient equipment. Tailored processing solutions for complex ores integrating bioflotation, physical separation, and other technologies will enhance recovery rates and concentrate quality, promoting broader applications.

The development of multifunctional diagnostic and therapeutic integrated nanoplatforms has great potential for application in the comprehensive regulation of the tumor microenvironment. Here, a novel multifunctional nanoplatform based on MXene (MnO2/Fe3O4/Ti3C2OH/CMC nanocomposite) was developed for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), photothermal therapy (PTT). In situ bimetallic modification of the MXene material by MnO2 and Fe3O4 allows enhanced MR imaging of the tumor areas in mice. The surface modification of the composite by carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) can improve its biocompatibility and reduce the toxicity of the biomaterials. Under 808 nm laser irradiation, Ti3C2OH MXene material has excellent photothermal performance with SAR value of 978.12 W/g. Meanwhile, the excellent photothermal properties of Ti3C2OH MXene material under 808 nm laser, the effective inhibition of the growth of tumor-bearing mice by the MnO2/Fe3O4/Ti3C2OH/ CMC nanocomposite were achieved using PTT. In summary, this work not only develops a drug-loaded nanoplatform with good biocompatibility, but also designs a strategy to functionalize MXene for cancer MRI-PTT, thus broadening the medical applications of MXene imaging-hyperthermia use.

A bio-derived carbon composite catalyst was successfully prepared by loading yeast onto the assembled montmorillonite nanosheets (MMTNS-L), followed by calcination, which effectively prevented catalyst aggregation. MMTNS assembled in a two-dimensional direction to form large sheets, providing a robust support structure. After carbonization, yeast cells, as natural biological entities rich in nitrogen, exhibited a distinctive hollow thinlayer spherical shell with a large specific surface area and abundant pores. The evaporation of internal water vapor further contributed to the formation of this porous structure. The spherical shells uniformly distribute on the assembled MMTNs, resisting aggregation and exposing more active sites, which enhances the catalyst's efficiency. The pyridine N and pyrrole N formed after carbonization provide additional active sites to facilitate electron transfer, while the stable graphite N and N-O enhance the catalyst's stability and promote the nonradicals generation. During the degradation process, potassium peroxymonosulfate (PMS) was introduced and activated by the catalyst, generating both free and non-free radicals to effectively degrade tetracycline (TC). Under optimal conditions, the assembly of MMTNS with a lamellar structure, followed by high-temperature yeast carbonization, achieved an 84 % TC degradation rate within 15 min. In this process, center dot SO-4, center dot O-2, and 1O2 all participated in TC degradation, with 1O2 being the dominant reactive species. As a highly reactive non-radical, 1O2 interacts with organic matter to facilitate its degradation. This structure significantly enhances photocatalytic performance and shows great potential for antibiotic removal. This technique aims to enhance the exposure of active sites on carbonized yeast and improve the catalyst's stability, thereby supporting the efficient treatment of antibiotic wastewater and the application of biocarbon catalytic materials.

In-situ nanofication of BiVO4 on montmorillonite nanosheets (MMTNs) was successfully achieved through the uniform adsorption of Bi3+ onto negatively charged MMTNs, which served as nucleation sites for polycrystalline growth, resulting in uniformly distributed nanoparticles. The combination of BiVO4 with MMTNs could not only prevent the formation and aggregation of large-grained BiVO4 but also promote the formation of monoclinic BiVO4. Cu doping introduced impurity energy levels within the BiVO4 bandgap, extending light absorption and creating oxygen vacancies that act as capture sites for photogenerated carriers, thus inhibiting its recombination and enhancing photocatalytic performance. The addition of H2O2 during degradation served as an electron acceptor, reacting with electrons to generate highly oxidizing center dot OH radicals while also acting as a scavenger to consume some electrons, further suppressing the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers and improving photocatalytic efficiency. At an optimal dosage of 0.40 g/L Cu-BiVO4/MMTNs, PNP concentration of 20 mg/L, and 100 mu L of H2O2, a degradation rate of 99.32 % for PNP under visible light was achieved. In this process, center dot OH, h+, center dot O2- , and e- all contributed to the photocatalytic degradation of PNP, with e- being the primary reactive species. e- could react with oxygen adsorbed on the catalyst surface, promoting the generation of H2O2, thus facilitating degradation. Such technique enhanced the exposure of active sites in BiVO4, improving its stable catalytic performance under visible light and providing support for the efficient treatment of phenolic wastewater, as well as the application of photocatalytic materials.

The widespread utilization of organic dyes has caused serious environmental threats to aquatic ecosystems. The persulfate-based advanced oxidation process (PS-AOP) is an effective strategy for the removal of hazardous dyes from wastewater. Currently, great attention has been paid to the synthesis of catalysts for PS-AOP. This work innovatively investigates the use of flash Joule heating (FJH) to rapidly modify natural magnetite, enhancing its catalytic activity for dye degradation via peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation. Compared to traditional heating processes (commonly several hours), FJH technology achieves rapid heating in seconds. Characterizations revealed that FJH treatment of natural magnetite and waste sawdust resulted in the formation of biochar and the iron reduction in magnetite. Modified natural magnetite was used for the catalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB). When the experimental conditions were catalyst 0.1 g/L, PMS 1 mM, RhB 20 mg/L, and temperature 25 degrees C, the degradation of 96.54 % RhB was obtained within 30 min. The catalytic system could be effectively operated under a wide pH range of 3-11 and had resistance to interference from co-existing substances in water. Additionally, the catalytic system efficiently degraded different dyes such as methyl orange, methylene blue, and malachite green. The carbothermic reduction during FJH treatment generated the reduced iron species, which were the main active centers of the catalyst. The catalytic system achieved effective RhB degradation through both radical pathways (SO4 & sdot;-and & sdot;OH) and non-radical pathways (1O2 and electron transfer). The catalyst can be reused for three cycles, and iron leaching causes the decline in the catalytic performance and the improvement of catalyst reusability will be examined. This work highlights the potential of FJH-modified natural magnetite as a cost-effective and efficient catalyst for PS-AOP in wastewater treatment.