Role of the sedimentary organic matter structure and microporosity on the degradation of nonylphenol by potassium ferrate.

In this study, the role of organic matter structure and microporosity in the adsorption and degradation of radioactive nonylphenol in sediments treated with potassium ferrate solutions was investigated. The demineralized fractions and acid non-hydrolyzable fractions were isolated and characterized via advanced solid-state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance and CO 2 gas adsorption technology, respectively. Radioactive nonylphenol in the sediments was also fractionated into ¹⁴CO 2 , water-soluble residues, extractable residues, and strongly bound residues after treatment with potassium ferrate. A first-order, two-compartment kinetic model well described the mineralization and degradation kinetics of radioactive nonylphenol in the sediment (R ² > 0.99). The degradation percentages of spiked nonylphenol were highly negatively correlated with aromatic carbon, aliphatic carbon, and microporosity estimated from acid-non-hydrolyzable fractions in the bulk sediments (R ² > 0.82, p < 0.01). The percentages of adsorbed parent nonylphenol residues were highly positively correlated with aromatic carbon, aliphatic carbon, and microporosity estimated from acid-non-hydrolyzable fractions in the bulk sediments (R ² > 0.90, p < 0.01). The parent nonylphenol compound desorbed into the aqueous phase and was completely degraded. This study is the first to demonstrate the important role of aromatic carbon, aliphatic carbon, and microporosity in acid non-hydrolyzable fractions on the degradation of nonylphenol during the potassium ferrate oxidation treatment process. [Display omitted] • Stable SOM was an important fraction in the sediments. • Aliphatic C and aromatic C were major structure of the stable SOM. • The stable SOM mainly consisted of sporopollenin, algaenan, and char. • The adsorbed parent NP was protected by the stable SOM. • Structure and micropore of the stable SOM controlled the adsorption and degradation of NP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]