Facile synthesis of porous CoFe2O4/graphene aerogel for catalyzing efficient removal of organic pollutants

A novel hierarchically porous CoFe2O4/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) aerogel (CFGA) was synthesized via a facile one-pot hydrothermal method and assessed in activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for the removal of organic pollutants. CoFe2O4 nanoparticles were uniformly distributed onto the surface of rGO aerogels, with rGO aerogel support maintaining the three-dimensional (3D) interconnected porous framework. Efficient activation of PMS and rapid removal of phenol were achieved using CFGA, ascribed to the large surface area and 3D porous framework of rGO aerogel that promoted mass transfer and the dispersion of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles catalytic sites. The great PMS-activation performance of CFGA was further demonstrated for the rapid removal of phenol under a broad pH range and in the presence of chloride or humic acid. Besides, the rapid removal of multiple organic pollutants was achieved in CFGA/PMS system. Mechanistic investigations suggest that PMS-activation by CFGA mainly follows a radical pathway. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis revealed that Co atom was involved in the PMS-activation process. Given the facile synthesis method and promising PMS-activation activity, CFGA represents a critical advance in the development of Fenton-like catalysts for pollutant removal. [Display omitted] •CoFe2O4/graphene aerogel (CFGA) with high porosity was facile synthesized.•CFGA exhibited great catalytic performance under acidic and circumneutral pH conditions.•Chloride showed an accelerating effect on phenol removal by CFGA/PMS system.•PMS-activation by CFGA mainly followed a radical pathway•CFGA possessed good catalytic activity in removal of multiple organic pollutants.