ZIF-Derived Catalyst with Co–Co/Co–N Dual Active Sites for Boosting Mixed Pathway Decontamination in Fenton-like Catalysis

Pollutant degradation via radical–nonradical mixed pathways offers opportunities to break the reactivity–stability trade-off in heterogeneous Fenton-like catalysis for water treatment; however, a precise catalyst design to enforce such mixed pathways remains challenging. Herein, by using bimetallic ZIFs as the precursor, we fabricated a cobalt (Co)-based catalyst (Co_0.75Zn_0.25-NC) with dual active sites for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation, where the Co–Co site and Co–N site preferentially catalyze the sulfate radicals and single oxygen generation, respectively. The system exhibited superior pollutant degradation activity, especially for the lectron-rich pollutants like tetracycline, high PMS utilization efficiency, negligible interference by the complicated water matrix, and good adaptation to broad pH and water quality conditions. A stable operation of the corresponding catalytic ceramic membrane was also demonstrated, achieving ∼70% pollutant removal during the long-term continuous-flow operation. This work offers valuable references to guide the Fenton-like catalyst design toward sustainable and low-carbon water purification applications.