Catalytic Activation Of Peroxymonosulfate Research Articles

The preparation of CONC/AC mesoporous materials based on artificial nano-compartment based on activated carbon holes and catalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate for ciprofloxacin degradation

The preparation of CONC/AC mesoporous materials based on artificial nano-compartment based on activated carbon holes and catalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate for ciprofloxacin degradation

Bimetal-carbon engineering for polypropylene conversion into hydrocarbons and ketones in a Fenton-like system

Fenton-like reaction with targeted reactive species was tested for up-cycling of waste plastics to value-added chemicals and we demonstrated a bimetal-carbon-activated peroxymonosulfate (PMS) Fenton-like system for effectively converting polypropylene into hydrocarbons and ketones. In a hydrothermal reaction process at 160 °C for 14h, directional polypropylene conversion was achieved at a selectivity of 80wt% hydrocarbons and ketones in the products. The distribution of Cu-Mg bimetallic sites on a carbon substrate exhibited a synergistic effect, and their catalytic activation of PMS induced specific generation of •OH-dominated reactive species. The target reactive species controlled the oxidizing capacity of the system. The efficient breaking of C-C/C-H bond in polypropylene and the subsequent further oxidation under mild conditions led to the dominated products of hydrocarbons and ketones. This study provides an attractive approach for upcycling waste plastics, thus promoting circular economy and carbon reduction.

Carbon redirection via tunable Fenton-like reactions under nanoconfinement toward sustainable water treatment

The ongoing pattern shift in water treatment from pollution control to energy recovery challenges the energy-intensive chemical oxidation processes that have been developed for over a century. Redirecting the pathways of carbon evolution from molecular fragmentation to polymerization is critical for energy harvesting during chemical oxidation, yet the regulation means remain to be exploited. Herein, by confining the widely-studied oxidation system—Mn3O4 catalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate—inside amorphous carbon nanotubes (ACNTs), we demonstrate that the pathways of contaminant conversion can be readily modulated by spatial nanoconfinement. Reducing the pore size of ACNTs from 120 to 20 nm monotonously improves the pathway selectivity toward oligomers, with the yield one order of magnitude higher under 20-nm nanoconfinement than in bulk. The interactions of Mn3O4 with ACNTs, reactant enrichment, and pH lowering under nanoconfinement are evidenced to collectively account for the enhanced selectivity toward polymerization. This work provides an adaptive paradigm for carbon redirection in a variety of catalytic oxidation processes toward energy harvesting and sustainable water purification.

Catalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate by intrinsic defects in amorphous carbon: Enhanced electronic transfer and oxygen-functional groups

Inherent defects in carbon material serve as an important way to enhance peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activity, however, the mechanism that activates PMS has always been ambiguous. Herein, the pyrolysis of straw with Prussian blue nanoparticles to prepare CoFe2O4/C (Carbon) was applied to analyze the mechanism of defective amorphous-C catalyzed activation of PMS. Amorphous-C structural defects increased the specific surface area of CoFe2O4/C (from 44.19 to 108.73 m2/g) with triggered electronic rearrangement, resulting in more PMS adsorption. CoFe2O4/C ensured the supply of low-valent metals (≡Co2+ and ≡Fe2+) simultaneously introduced a large number of surface oxygen-containing functional groups, which facilitated free radical generation. The structural defects enhanced electron transfer contributing to the direct oxidative degradation of BPA. Thus, 100 % removal of 450 µM BPA was achieved within 40 min attributed to the combined effect of catalyst-mediated ∙OH, 1O2, and electron transfer. Furthermore, the CoFe2O4/C/PMS system for BPA degradation exhibited universal pH suitability (4 ∼ 10) and low metal leaching (452.10 and 19.53 μg/L for Co and Fe, respectively). This study constructs systematic support for proposing the catalytic mechanism of carbon intrinsic defects activated PMS.

Effect of different lanthanide ions on the catalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate with lanthanide metal-organic frameworks (Ln-MOFs) with terephthalic acid

Ln-MOFs with four different Ln-ions (La, Ce, Gd, Tb) and terephthalic acid (H2BDC) were synthesised by solvothermal method. The crystals structure was confirmed by powder XRD and infrared spectroscopy (IR) corresponding to [Ln2(BDC)2(H2O)4]∞ and microstructural information of all samples was extracted by applying Rietveld refinement. By scanning electron microscopy (SEM) the morphology of the samples was revealed. First time applying Ln-MOFs for the catalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) demonstrated their potential application as catalysts in a Fenton-like reaction for water purification from the antibiotic tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH). For the best performing Ce-MOF degradation of TCH reached 80% that’s why additional experiment for determination of activation energy and the mechanism of the catalytic reaction were performed. The stability of the catalyst was also confirmed by powder XRD after the reaction.

Nitrogen-rich carbon for catalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate towards green synthesis

Nitrogen-rich carbon for catalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate towards green synthesis

Catalytic transformation of microplastics to functional carbon for catalytic peroxymonosulfate activation: Conversion mechanism and defect of scavenging

Plastic wastes were catalytically transformed into different structured carbons as effective catalysts for peroxymonosulfate activation to degrade organic pollutants in water and the catalytic conversion mechanism was comprehensively investigated. A salt template-based carbonization approach was successfully developed to catalytically converting high-density polyethylene (HDPE) into diverse carbon materials, such as core-shell carbon composites, nanosheets, and their hybrids. The morphology and proportions of structure defective carbon were found to be controlled by a NiCl2 to HDPE ratio. Carbon nanosheets performed excellent catalytic efficiency in peroxymonosulfate activation toward phenol oxidation, due to a high content of reactive defects via a nonradical electron-transfer mechanism. More importantly, deliberate experiment design and kinetic analyses were employed to illustrate the artifact of radical scavengers (e.g., ethanol) in mechanistic investigation for nonradical/radical reaction. This work provides an upcycle approach for waste plastics into carbocatalysts and new insight to the conversion process and advanced water purification.

Levofloxacin degradation by porous Cox/CN activated peroxymonosulfate: Investigation of efficiency, mechanism, and degradation pathways

Co is a transition metal with a promising catalytic effect. Catalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and peroxydisulfate (PDS) using cobalt-based catalysts has received increasing attention as a promising technology that can remove difficult-to-degrade pollutants from water. Herein, a porous Co-doped g-C3N4 catalyst Cox/CN with non-uniform pores was synthesized to investigate the degradation of levofloxacin (LEV) by its activated peroxymonosulfate (PMS). The results showed that Co was uniformly distributed in g-C3N4 in the form of CoN bonds, which provided more active sites for the activation of PMS. The catalytic performance of Cox/CN was investigated by factors such as Co doping, catalyst dosing, PMS dosing, initial pH of the solution, and reaction temperature, and it was found that Cox/CN could maintain good catalytic activity in the pH range of 5–9. The cyclic catalytic degradation experiments showed that Cox/CN has good stability and reusability. The degradation mechanisms and pathways of LEV were also revealed such that SO4− was the main reactive oxidizing species (ROS), and LEV was degraded to organic compounds of smaller molecular mass through six pathways. This study offered a new strategy for synthesizing structurally diverse non-homogeneous Co-based catalysts and for the degradation of antibiotics.

Atomically dispersed vanadium on g-C3N4 for effective ciprofloxacin degradation via peroxymonosulfate activation: Insights on the nonradical pathway and V redox cycles

This work describes the preparation and characterization of atomically-dispersed V on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4, CN) via a facile calcination method. The V atoms were found to coordinate with the –N and –O in the triazine units of g-C3N4. The catalytic activity of the as-prepared materials was evaluated in ciprofloxacin (CIP) degradation via peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation. It was found that the presence of V (0.10 at%) noticeably enhanced the catalytic activity of CN, and the V-CN catalyst showed substantial tolerance towards pH changes, interfering species, various water sources, and different antibiotics. Chemical scavenging and electrochemical methods illustrated that the V-CN/PMS/CIP system encompassed of a nonradical electron-transfer pathway (50.0%), singlet oxygen (1O2) pathway (30.8%), sulfate radical (SO4•-) generation (11.5%), and other reactive species (7.7%), and the activation process was due to the V-redox cycles. Peculiarly, V(IV)/V(III) redox cycles were responsible for the nonradical electron-transfer pathway while V(V)/V(IV) redox cycles were behind the SO4•- and 1O2 generation. Additionally, comprehensive investigation on the catalytic affinity of V-CN towards different antibiotics elucidated that the electrochemical properties of the organic pollutant play a major role in the electron-transfer direction during nonradical activation. Lastly, the CIP degradation pathway was proposed, and the toxicity of its degradation intermediates was estimated. Overall, this work deepens the understanding on the potential of V-based materials in catalytic PMS activation.

Highly efficient and selective organic pollutants degradation via peroxymonosulfate activation over micron-sized Co-MOF: Nearly 100% singlet oxygen mechanism

Singlet oxygen-based advanced oxidation processes (1O2-AOPs) have attracted extensive interest in selective removal of organic pollutants in the complicated water matrices. However, both the highly efficient 1O2 production and selective pollutants oxidation degradation are challenging. In this work, a 2D Co-MOF (Co-tib) was synthesized and applied to accomplish nearly 100% 1O2 production during peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation, which exhibited excellent selective catalytic oxidation performance toward multiple organic pollutants. More importantly, ＞99% selective removal efficiencies for rhodamine B (RhB), bisphenol A (BPA) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) are achieved in the mixed RhB/BPA/SMX/Benzoic acid (BA) solutions, and ＞90% selective removal efficiencies for RhB, BPA and SMX are achieved in the mixed RhB/BPA/SMX/P-nitrobenzoic acid (NBA) solutions. The influences of PMS dosage, pH, pollutant concentrations and inorganic ions for pollutants degradation were investigated. The reaction mechanisms were proposed via active species quenching tests, probe experiments and electron spin resonance (ESR). This work will provide new inspiration for 1O2 production and selective degradation toward multiple pollutants in a complicated aqueous matrix via the catalytic PMS activation over MOFs catalysts.

Performance and mechanism of antibiotic removal by MOF-on-MOF-derived cobalt and nitrogen-doped magnetic porous carbon activated PMS

In this work, magnetic porous carbon material doped with cobalt and nitrogen (Co@N-MC) was obtained by pyrolysis of ZIF-67@ZIF-8. Various characterization techniques were used to investigate the material properties and cobalt was found to exist as Co0, Co2+, and Co3+. The efficiency of catalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for tetracycline (TC) degradation was investigated and 91.27 % of TC was degraded within 30 min using 0.2 g/L PMS and 0.04 g/L Co@N-MC. Furthermore, the effect of different factors on TC removal from the Co@N-MC/PMS system was examined and it was found that Co@N-MC maintained good catalytic activity and decent anti-interference ability. Additionally, the free radical quenching, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) tests revealed that Co@N-MC activates PMS mainly through radical pathways (sulfate radical, hydroxyl radical and superoxide radical) and non-radical pathways (singlet oxygen、electron transfer), of which the latter is dominant. An examination of the stability of the material revealed that cobalt leaching (0.308 mg/L) was below the national China Emission standard. Possible TC degradation pathways were also proposed. Biotoxicity of major intermediates and end products was significantly reduced compared to TC. Overall, this study provides a novel approach for the preparation of non-uniform cobalt-based catalysts with high efficiency and low cobalt leaching for the activation of PMS.

High-efficiency degradation of carbamazepine by the synergistic electro-activation and bimetals (FeCo@NC) catalytic-activation of peroxymonosulfate

This study developed a novel advanced oxidation process, coupling activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) by electrochemistry and catalyst based on an advanced electrocatalyst. Herein, nitrogen-rich porous carbon decorated with FeCo alloy (FeCo@NC) was fabricated to modify carbon felt (FeCo@NC/CF) to remove carbamazepine (CBZ) via electro-enhanced activation of PMS (E-FeCo@NC/CF-PMS). C–C, O-CO and M=O contents in FeCo@NC are positively correlated with CBZ degradation (r2 =0.937 and 0.942). Benefit from the obvious synergistic effect (S=3.49) of electro-activation and catalytic-activation caused by electrowetting, CBZ removal (k = 0.0811 min−1) was significantly improved with extremely low electric energy consumption (EEC, 0.0506 kWh log−1 m−3). Electric field facilitates the regeneration of key catalytic components Fe2+ and Co2+. •OH (derived from the co-activation) and electron-transfer process (derived from catalytic-activation) were the underlying catalysis mechanisms. This work provided new vision to promote the practical utilization of Fenton-like reaction with high-efficiency and low-cost.

Peroxymonosulfate assisted pesticide breakdown: Unveiling the potential of a novel S-scheme ZnO@CoFe2O4 photo-catalyst, anchored on activated carbon

A ternary hetero-junction was prepared by anchoring ZnO@CoFe2O4 (ZCF) on activated carbon (AC) and employed as a UV-assisted peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activator to boost the degradation of diazinon (DZN) pesticide. The structure, morphology, and optical properties of the ZCFAC hetero-junction were characterized through a series of techniques. The highest degradation efficiency of DZN (100% in 90 min) was achieved by the PMS-mediated ZCFAC/UV system, superior to other single or binary catalytic systems due to the strong synergistic effect between ZCFAC, PMS, and UV. The operating reaction conditions, synergistic effects, and the possible pathways of DZN degradation were investigated and discussed. Optical analysis showed that the band-gap energy of the ZCFAC hetero-junction not only enhanced the absorption of UV light but also reduced the recombination of photo-induced electron/hole pairs. Both radical and non-radical species (HO•, SO4•−, O2•−, 1O2, and h+) took part in the photo-degradation of DZN, assessed by scavenging tests. It was found that AC as a carrier not only improved the catalytic activity of CF and ZnO nanoparticles and conferred high stability for the catalyst but also played a crucial role in accelerating the catalytic PMS activation mechanism. Moreover, the PMS-mediated ZCFAC/UV system showed good reusability, universality, and practical applicability potential. Overall, this work explored an efficient strategy for the best use of hetero-structure photo-catalysts towards PMS activation to achieve high performance in decontaminating organic compounds.

Multiple path-dominated activation of peroxymonosulfate by MOF-derived Fe2O3/Mn3O4 for catalytic degradation of tetracycline

Sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation process (SR-AOP) has been identified as an efficient technology for the treatment of antibiotic contamination, with a focus on the development of catalysts for efficient activation of persulfate. In this work, a novel peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activator, metal organic framework (MOF) derived Fe2O3/Mn3O4 composite, was prepared and characterized. The physicochemical properties, catalytic performance of the catalyst and the degradation mechanism of tetracycline (TC) by the reaction system were thoroughly investigated. Combined with the experimental results and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we can reasonably speculate that both radical (O2˙ˉ) and non-radical (1O2 and electron transfer) pathways contributed to the catalytic activation of PMS for TC degradation. The enhanced catalytic activity was attributed to the combination of Fe2O3 with Mn3O4 accelerated Fe(II)/Fe(III) cycle and Mn(II)/Mn(III) cycle. In addition, the extended peroxide O-O bond length facilitated the generation of 1O2. After five consecutive experiments, no significant change in catalytic performance and chemical structure was found, indicating that this catalyst had not only good chemical stability but also astonishing reusability. The research results are expected to provide some valuable theoretical basis for MOF-derived metal oxides catalytic activation of PMS for wastewater treatment.

Laser-Induced Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Composite Iron–Cobalt Hydroxide for Methylene Blue Degradation via Electrocatalytic Activation of Peroxymonosulfate

With the acceleration of industrialization, the removal of refractory organic dyes from water and how to promote its practical application remains a challenge. Herein, we synthesized an FeCo-LDH/LI-NDG composite electrode material by a simple laser-induced technique on polyimide films, which could electrocatalytically activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to completely degrade MB in about 6 min. The reaction rate constant (kobs) was 0.461 min−1. It was faster than most of the currently reported electrocatalysts. The reaction system demonstrated good interference resistance and catalytic effectiveness in the pH range of 3 to 9. According to the chemical quenching and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments, the non-radical pathway of 1O2 and the radical pathways of SO4·−, ·OH and O2·− were involved in the reaction synergistically, with 1O2 playing the dominant role. 1O2 was produced through the dual pathway of PMS electron loss at the anode and O2·− intermediate transformation at the cathode. The two activation methods of electro-activation and catalytic activation of PMS had synergistic effects to achieve high efficiency in the whole process of production, reaction and recovery, providing new ideas to advance practical applications.

SiC@FeZnZiF as a Bifunctional Catalyst with Catalytic Activating PMS and Photoreducing Carbon Dioxide.

Herein, we encapsulated modified silicon carbide nanoparticles utilizing a metal-organic backbone. E-SiC-FeZnZIF composites were successfully prepared via Fe doping. The catalysis activity of this bifunctional composite material was evaluated by the degradation of tetracycline (THC) and carbamazepine (CBZ) and the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2). Nano SiC has received widespread attention in advanced oxidation applications, especially in the catalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS). However, the inferior activity of SiC has severely restricted its practical use. In this study of dual functional composite materials, nano SiC was firstly etched under aqueous alkali. Then, zeolite imidazolate frame-8 (ZIF-8) was used for immobilization. The filling of the etched nano SiC with FeZnZiF was confirmed by SEM, XRD, FTIR, BET, and XPS analyses. In addition, E-SiC-FeZnZIF exhibited excellent catalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to oxidize water pollutants, which can degrade tetracycline hydrochloride (THC), achieving a removal rate of 72% within 60 min. Moreover, E-SiC-FeZnZIF exhibited a relatively high CO2 reduction rate with H2O. The yields of CO and CH4 were 0.085 and 0.509 μmol g-1, respectively, after 2 h, which are higher than that of 50 nm of commercial SiC (CO: 0.084 μmol g-1; CH4: 0.209 μmol g-1). This work provides a relatively convenient synthesis path for constructing metal skeleton composites for advanced oxidation and photocatalytic applications. This will have practical significance in protecting water bodies and reducing CO2, which are vital not only for maintaining the natural ecological balance and negative feedback regulation, but also for creating a new application carrier based on nano silicon carbide.

NiCo2O4-loaded sunflower husk-derived biochar as efficient peroxymonosulfate activator for tetracycline removal in water

In this study, biochar produced from sunflower seeds husk was activated through ZnCl2 to support the NiCo2O4 nanoparticles (NiCo2O4@ZSF) in catalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) toward tetracycline (TC) removal from aqueous solution. The good dispersion of NiCo2O4 NPs on the ZSF surface provided sufficient active sites and abundant functional groups for the adsorption and catalytic reaction. The NiCo2O4@ZSF activating PMS showed high removal efficiency up to 99% after 30 min under optimal condition ([NiCo2O4@ZSF] = 25 mg L-1, [PMS] = 0.04 mM, [TC] = 0.02 mM and pH = 7). The catalyst also exhibited good adsorption performance with a maximum adsorption capacity of 322.58 mg g−1. Sulfate radicals (SO4•−), superoxide radical (O2•−), and singlet oxygen (1O2) played a decisive role in the NiCo2O4@ZSF/PMS system. In conclusion, our research elucidated the production of highly efficient carbon-based catalysts for environmental remediation, and also emphasized the potential application of NiCo2O4 doped biochar.

Ultrathin MoS2 nanosheet-wrapped Fe3O4 nanocrystals synergistically activate peroxymonosulfate for enhanced removal of organic pollutants

In peroxides-based advanced oxidation technologies (AOPs) using Fe-based catalysts, the low efficiency of Fe-ions cycling hinders their industrial applications. Recently, MoS2 has been validated to be a promising co-catalyst that can effectively promote the dynamic cycling of Fe-ions during the reaction. However, the activities of the reported MoS2-loaded Fe-based catalysts still decreased significantly after 3–5 cycling reactions, so it is necessary to develop a catalyst with high activity and stability. A series of MoS2 @Fe3O4-x (MF-x) catalysts were successfully constructed to trigger peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to eliminate the refractory organics. Ultrathin MoS2 nanosheets (∼ 5.7 nm) were uniformly and firmly coated on the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles via Fe–S bridging interaction. Pure MoS2 made little contribution to the climbazole (CBZ) degradation. Compared to the Fe3O4/PMS system, the adsorption and degradation efficiencies of the CBZ by MF-x/PMS system were improved by 7.5 and 4 times, respectively. The FeII/FeIII and MoIV/MoVI redox cycles on the MF-x surface could interact and work in synergy during the catalytic activation of PMS to degrade pollutants. MF-0.23 was an effective and stable catalyst for application over a wide pH range (2.0–9.8). Moreover, it efficiently dealt with other representative refractory contaminants with different pKa values, such as fluconazole (FZ), phenol, and rhodamine B (RhB). The primary active free radicals in MF-0.23/PMS system were detected to be O2•– and SO4•–. Specifically, the generated O2•– not only participated in the degradation of contaminants but also contributed to the MoIV regeneration. With outstanding catalytic activity, broad applicability, excellent reusability, and long-term stability, the MoS2 nanosheet-wrapped Fe3O4 nanocrystals should be an ideal heterogeneous catalyst for PMS-based AOPs.

MOF-5@Ni Derived ZnO@Ni3ZnC0.7/PMS System for Organic Matter Removal: A Thorough Understanding of the Adsorption–Degradation Process

• ZnO@Ni 3 ZnC 0.7 was successfully synthesized as an effective adsorbent and oxidation catalyst. • Surface hydroxyl groups are the key active sites of both adsorption and degradation. • The degradation process regenerates the adsorption capacity of the catalyst. • Non-radical pathway is the main pathway of degradation in ZN-CS/PMS system. • The magnetic composite can be easily separated and the reusability was verified excellent. The heterogeneous catalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate for wastewater treatment is attracting increased research interest. Therefore, it is essential to find a sustainable, economical, and effective activated material for wastewater treatment. In this study, metal–organic frameworks (MOF)-5 was used as the precursor, and a stable and recyclable material ZnO@Ni 3 ZnC 0.7 that exhibited good adsorption and catalytic properties, was obtained by the addition of nickel and subsequent calcination. To investigate and optimize the practical application conditions, the elimination of rhodamine B (RhB) in water was selected as the model process. This study demonstrated that the degradation of organic matter in the system involved a coupling of the adsorption and degradation processes. Based on this, the mechanism of the entire process was proposed. The results of scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectrum analysis, and theoretical analysis confirmed that the van der Waals forces, electrostatic attraction, and hydrogen bonding influenced the adsorption process. Electron paramagnetic resonance analysis, masking experiments, and electrochemical tests conducted during the oxidative degradation process confirmed that the degradation mechanism of RhB included both radical and non-free radical pathways, and that the surface hydroxyl group was the key active site. The degradation of the adsorbed substrates enabled the regeneration of the active sites. The material regenerated using a simple method exhibited good efficiency for the removal of organic compounds in four-cycle tests. Moreover, this material can effectively remove a variety of organic pollutants, and can be easily recovered owing to its magnetic properties. The results demonstrated that the use of heterogeneous catalytic materials with good adsorption capacity could be an economical and beneficial strategy.

Enhanced Heterogeneous Peroxymonosulfate Activation by MOF-Derived Magnetic Carbonaceous Nanocomposite for Phenol Degradation.

Degradation efficiency and catalyst stability are crucial issues in the control of organic compounds in wastewater by advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). However, it is difficult for catalysts used in AOPs to have both high catalytic activity and high stability. Combined with the excellent activity of cobalt/copper oxides and the good stability of carbon, highly dispersed cobalt-oxide and copper-oxide nanoparticles embedded in carbon-matrix composites (Co-Cu@C) were prepared for the catalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS). The catalysts exhibited a stable structure and excellent performance for complete phenol degradation (20 mg L-1) within 5 min in the Cu-Co@C-5/PMS system, as well as low metal-ion-leaching rates and great reusability. Moreover, a quenching test and an EPR analysis revealed that ·OH, O2·-, and 1O2 were generated in the Co-Cu@C/PMS system for phenol degradation. The possible mechanism for the radical and non-radical pathways in the activation of the PMS by the Co-Cu@C was proposed. The present study provides a new strategy with which to construct heterostructures for environmentally friendly and efficient PMS-activation catalysts.