Synergistic enhancement of Cobalt-Based catalysts for Peroxymonosulfate Activation: Polyoxometalate-Modified MOF-derived C/Co for efficient Acetaminophen degradation

Abstract

As an emerging aquatic pollutant, acetaminophen (APAP) poses ecological risks that drive the development of efficient treatment technologies. This study addresses the challenges of active site dispersion and redox cycling efficiency in cobalt-based peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation systems by innovatively employing a phosphomolybdic acid (PMA) coordination modification strategy to construct a Co-N@PMA multi-metal catalyst. Experimental results show that the catalyst enhances APAP degradation efficiency by 28.45 times compared to the original ZIF-67_de system and exhibits exceptional environmental adaptability in complex water parameters (pH 3–9, coexisting anions, and humic acid). Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and quenching experiments characterization confirm that the system primarily follows a non-radical degradation pathway. Experiments and theoretical calculations reveal that the PMA-induced Co-N-Mo ternary synergistic structure optimizes the electron transfer network, facilitating the Co²⁺/Co³⁺ redox cycle and thereby enhancing catalytic activity. This study lays a theoretical foundation for the design of multi-metal synergistic catalytic systems and their practical applications in water treatment.