New insights into FeS/persulfate system for tetracycline elimination: Iron valence, homogeneous-heterogeneous reactions and degradation pathways

In this study, complete tetracycline（TTC） and above 50% of total organic carbon（TOC） were removed by Fe S/PS after 30 min under optimized conditions. Although free radicals and high-valent iron ions were identified to generate in the process, the apparent similarity between intermediate products of Fe S/PS, Fe/PS, and UV/PS systems demonstrated that the degradation of TTC was due to sulfate radicals(SO₄^·-) and hydroxyl radicals（ ·OH）. Based on the reaction between free radi...