A novel Fe/Mo co-catalyzed graphene-based nanocomposite to activate peroxymonosulfate for highly efficient degradation of organic pollutants

A novel 3D α-FeOOH@MoS2/rGO nanocomposite was successfully fabricated by a simple in situ hydrothermal method. It is a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst in activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for rapid degradation of rhodamine B (RhB), with 99.9% of RhB removed within 20 min. The introduction of rGO contributes to uniform dispersion and sufficient contact of α-FeOOH and MoS2 nanosheets. Highly active Mo(IV) enhances the reduction of Fe(III), improves Fe(III)/Fe(II) conversion and promotes the generation of O21, which ensures an improved catalytic activity. MoS2/rGO hybrid can effectively solve the problem of material reunion and make α-FeOOH exhibit excellent catalytic performance. The α-FeOOH@MoS2-rGO/PMS system is a co-catalytic system based on the active components of α-FeOOH and MoS2. The main reactive oxygen species in the α-FeOOH@MoS2-rGO/PMS system are O21, SO4.− and ⋅O2−, which contribute to a high reactivity over a wide range of pH (5–9). Besides, this system is highly resistant to anions (Cl−, SO42−) and natural organic matter (humic acid), and can be widely used for degradation of common organic pollutants. The α-FeOOH@MoS2/rGO is a promising Fenton-like catalyst for refractory organic wastewater treatment. [Display omitted] •A novel α-FeOOH@MoS2/rGO catalyst was prepared via simple hydrothermal method.•Fe/Mo dual-site co-catalysis can effectively activate PMS.•O21, SO4.− and ⋅O2− were the main ROS generated in α-FeOOH@MoS2-rGO/PMS.•Synergistic catalytic mechanism of α-FeOOH@MoS2/rGO was elucidated.