Spinel cobalt ferrite-based porous activated carbon in conjunction with UV light irradiation for boosting peroxymonosulfate oxidation of bisphenol A

Developing heterogeneous catalysts with high performance for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation to decontaminate organic pollutants from wastewater is of prominent importance. In this study, spinel cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) materials were coated on the surface of powdered activated carbon (CoFe2O4@PAC) via the facile co-precipitation method. The high specific surface area of PAC was beneficial for the adsorption of both bisphenol A (BP-A) and PMS molecules. The CoFe2O4@PAC-mediated PMS activation process under UV light could effectively eliminate 99.4% of the BP-A within 60 min of reaction. A significant synergy effect was attained between CoFe2O4 and PAC towards PMS activation and subsequent elimination of BP-A. Comparative tests demonstrated that the heterogeneous CoFe2O4@PAC catalyst had a better degradation performance in comparison with its components and homogeneous catalysts (Fe, Co, and, Fe + Co ions). The formed by-products and intermediates during BP-A decontamination were evaluated using LC/MS analysis, and then a possible degradation pathway was proposed. Moreover, the prepared catalyst exhibited excellent performance in recyclability with slight leaching amounts of Co and Fe ions. A TOC conversion of 38% was obtained after five consecutive reaction cycles. It can be concluded that the PMS photo-activation process via the CoFe2O4@PAC catalyst can be utilized as an effective and promising method for the degradation of organic contaminants from polluted-water resources. [Display omitted] •CoFe2O4 was anchored on PAC and used as a PMS activator to degrade BP-A.•CoFe2O4@PAC catalyst exhibited better performance than homogeneous catalysts towards BP-A degradation.•CoFe2O4@PAC/PMS/UV eliminated 99.4% and 49.5% of BP-A and TOC, respectively.•The plausible BP-A degradation pathway was proposed based on the produced intermediates.•CoFe2O4@PAC had an excellent performance in recyclability with slight leaching of metal ions.