An attapulgite composite with high degradation performance for Congo red without using oxidants and photoexcitation

A mineral composite material (ATP-Fe3O4-PEI) with high adsorption-degradation performance was developed by using a simple hydrothermal way. The ATP-Fe3O4-PEI composites could produce hydroxyl radicals (·OH) without external addition of oxidizer (such as H2O2 and other peroxide) and/or photoexcitation to effectively degrade the Congo red molecules in the dye wastewater.