Broadening the pH range of molecular oxygen activation for zero-valent aluminum by ball-milling surface modification

[Display omitted] •A novel Al0-based composite was prepared with a one-pot ball milling method.•FeEDTA and CNTs achieved Al0′s surface activation and modification simultaneously.•Al0, FeEDTA and CNTs showed great synergistic performance on O2 activation.•O2 could be activated over a wide pH range of 2–10 by Al0-based composite.•The main free radical species were OH and O2− that degraded phenol effectively. In the zero-valent aluminum (Al0)/O2 system, due to the oxide film covering the Al0 surface and secondary passivation occurring during the reaction, the drawbacks of long induction period (∼2 h) and requiring strong acidic conditions (pH