(159w) Synthesis of Sludge Based Mesoporous Carbon for the Degradation of Rhodamine B Using Sodium Percarbonate Activation: Electron Transfer Mechanism

Sludge based mesoporous carbon was prepared using one-pot pyrolysis process for the activation of sodium percarbonate (SPC) to degrade rhodamine B. Significant SPC activation was achieved by optimizing the sludge derived mesoporous carbon and adjusting the pyrolysis temperatures for the destruction of rhodamine B. A maximum degradation efficiency of rhodamine B (0.9 mol/ mol of SPC) was achieved with a catalyst dosage of 0.5g/L. The oxidation of rhodamine B confirmed the role of electron transfer mechanism by detecting singlet oxygen due to SPC activation by sludge based mesoporous carbon catalyst. Tailoring the surface chemistry with selective medication of the carbonyl groups in the prepared mesoporous carbon catalyst made a linear relationship with the catalytic reactivity whereas, the subsequent reactions of SPC and carbonyl generated reactive complex species on the surface that were more vigorously favorable in comparison to singlet oxygen production. This study explores a new regime of using sludge derived carbon materials for the SPC activation.