Citation: Yalan Deng, Yaqi Wu, Haipeng Xiao, Nuowen Ma, Huifang Miao, Liuxuan Cao, Wei Guo. Synergistic phenol degradation via electron beam irradiation and bimetallic catalysis: Coupling radical and non-radical pathways[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(9): 111568. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111568 shu

Synergistic phenol degradation via electron beam irradiation and bimetallic catalysis: Coupling radical and non-radical pathways

Yalan Deng ^a ,
Yaqi Wu ^b ,
Haipeng Xiao ^a ,
Nuowen Ma ^a ,
Huifang Miao ^{a, c, *,} ,
Liuxuan Cao ^{a, c, *,} ,
Wei Guo ^d

a.
College of Energy, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
b.
College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
c.
Fujian Research Center for Nuclear Engineering, Xiamen 361005, China
d.
Biosafety Research Center Yangtze River Delta in Zhangjiagang, Zhangjiagang 215611, China

hfmiao@xmu.edu.cn

caoliuxuan@xmu.edu.cn

Received Date: 6 June 2025
Revised Date: 24 June 2025
Accepted Date: 28 June 2025
Available Online: 18 September 2025

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Electron beam (EB) irradiation has gained significant attention in industrial wastewater due to its high efficiency and absence of chemical additives or secondary waste. However, its application remains constrained by relatively high operational costs. To address this limitation, we develop a sustainable advanced oxidation platform by synergistically integrating EB irradiation with a bimetallic catalyst (Cu_0.97Co_0.03/AC) for enhanced phenol (Ph) degradation. The Cu-Co bimetallic catalyst activated a dual reaction network encompassing both radical (^•OH, ^•O₂^-) and non-radical (¹O₂, h⁺, e^-) pathways, enabling effective Ph degradation. Compared to EB irradiation alone, this integrated system achieved 6.92-fold and 41.43-fold enhancements in Ph degradation and total organic carbon (TOC) removal, respectively. Quenching and trapping experiments confirmed ¹O₂ and ^•OH as the dominant reactive species. The system demonstrated broad pH adaptability while avoiding sulfate byproduct formation typically associated with ¹O₂-based processes. Toxicity assessment confirmed substantial reduction in intermediate toxicity. Meanwhile, the catalyst maintained excellent cycling stability under prolonged irradiation. This work presents a novel approach for efficient degradation and mineralization of highly toxic organic pollutants through radical/non-radical pathway coupling enabled by EB-bimetallic synergy.
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