Degradation of Chlorogenic Acid by Magnetic Field Coupled Fe-C Activated Persulfate Process

• • MF/Fe-C/PS achieved 99% degradation of CGA within 60 min under optimal conditions (pH=3, PS=1.5 mmol·L−1, Fe-C=0.4 g·L−1), demonstrating near-complete removal of a recalcitrant pharmaceutical pollutant. • • Radical contribution rates were quantified: SO4−· (41.6%), ·OH (30.5%), and 1O2 (27.9%), enabling targeted optimization of oxidant systems for enhanced performance. • • The presence of Cl−, Br−, and I− inhibited CGA degradation, with the effect varying by halide; this highlights the need for pre-treatment in saline or halide-rich waters. • • MF/Fe-C/PS pre-oxidation significantly reduced the formation potential of THMs and HANs during subsequent chlorination/chloramination, mitigating disinfection byproduct risks. • • The process exhibited an energy consumption of 3.38 kW·h·m−3 (EE/O), indicating superior energy efficiency compared to Fe-C, PS, and Fe-C/PS alone, supporting its economic viability for water treatment.