Citation: Zhimin Xu, Siyu He, Lingzhi Wang, Lei Wen, Fangfang Li, Hongbo Peng, Siyao Wang, Kexin Chang, Bo Pan, Peng Gao. Degradation mechanisms of bisphenol A in oxalic acid/Fe(Ⅲ)/sodium percarbonate system: The key roles of iron oxalate complexes[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(8): 112343. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.112343 shu

Degradation mechanisms of bisphenol A in oxalic acid/Fe(Ⅲ)/sodium percarbonate system: The key roles of iron oxalate complexes

Zhimin Xu ^{a, b} ,
Siyu He ^c ,
Lingzhi Wang ^d ,
Lei Wen ^a ,
Fangfang Li ^b ,
Hongbo Peng ^{a, b, *,} ,
Siyao Wang ^b ,
Kexin Chang ^a ,
Bo Pan ^b ,
Peng Gao ^{e, *,}

a.
Faculty of Modern Agricultural Engineering, Kunming University of Science & Technology, Kunming 650500, China
b.
Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Carbon Sequestration and Pollution Control, Faculty of Environmental Science & Engineering, Kunming University of Science & Technology, Kunming 650500, China
c.
Food Science & Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
d.
Institute of Traffic Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
e.
City College, Kunming University of Science & Technology, Kunming 650500, China

mzxb817@163.com

Gpeng8205@163.com

Received Date: 14 July 2025
Revised Date: 8 December 2025
Accepted Date: 29 December 2025
Available Online: 30 December 2025

Figures(5)

Oxalic acid (OA) promotes the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the degradation of pollutants, while it also enhances the reduction of trivalent iron (Fe(Ⅲ)) in homogeneous Fenton systems. However, due to the coexistence of Fe(Ⅱ) and OA-Fe(Ⅲ)/hydroperoxide complex, the generation pathways of ROS and degradation mechanisms of pollutants have not been clarified. In this work, bisphenol A (BPA) was selected and its degradation mechanisms in the OA/Fe(Ⅲ)/sodium percarbonate (SPC) system were investigated. Results showed that 99% of BPA degradation in OA/Fe(Ⅲ)/SPC system, which was higher than that of single Fe(Ⅲ) and SPC system (degradation ratio < 10%). OA promoted the formation of carbonate radicals (CO₃^•-) and hydroxyl radicals (^•OH). There was no remarkable relationship between the degradation ratio of BPA and the change of Fe(Ⅱ) concentration, suggesting that the reduction properties of OA was not the direct cause of BPA degradation. By further analysis, the chelation of Fe(Ⅲ) and OA resulted in an enormous potential difference between Fe(Ⅱ) and Fe(Ⅲ)-OA complex, which was more favorable for accepting electrons from Fe(Ⅱ) intermediate, and forming more reactive ferrous complexes; moreover, iron oxalate (Fe₂(C₂O₄)₃) enhanced BPA degradation in the Fe(Ⅱ)/SPC system, which also evidenced the above findings. Under neutral conditions (pH 7.0), peroxy intermediate (OA-Fe(Ⅲ)-OOH) complex also contributed to CO₃^•-/^•OH production and enhanced BPA degradation. These findings highlight the important role of OA in degradation of pollutants, which provides valuable insights for designing sustainable Fenton-based advanced oxidation processes.
- Sodium percarbonate activation,
- Organic acid,
- Fe(Ⅱ)/Fe(Ⅲ) cycle,
- Reactive oxygen species,
- Organic pollutants removal
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