Dual-metal-doped perovskite adsorbents for efficient removal of humic acid

Humic acid (HA), a complex organic compound of natural matter, is harmless on its own but can form carcinogenic disinfection byproducts, such as trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids, during water chlorination and disinfection processes, posing serious risks to aquatic organisms and human health. We present a B-site dual-metal-doping strategy to fabricate ferromagnetic perovskite-type adsorbents for rapid and efficient HA degradation. Perovskite oxides, specifically LaFeO3, were selected for their unique crystal structure, tunability, and inherent ferromagnetic properties. By doping Ti and Co at the B-site, we created a bifunctional perovskite absorbent that exhibits a rapid HA adsorption rate with a high adsorption capacity of 381 mg g-1, while also enabling regeneration in situ or magnetic recovery for Fenton regeneration. Computational simulations provide molecular-level insights into the interactions between the perovskite adsorbent and HA. Our findings reveal the potential of perovskite materials as highly effective, regenerable catalytic adsorbents for organic compounds, paving the way for their development in sustainable water remediation applications. Ti/Co dual-doped LaFeO₃ perovskite rapidly removes humic acid from water, and its magnetic, Fenton-active design enables easy recovery and quick in situ regeneration with H₂O₂ for stable long-term reuse.