Macroscopic Zn-doped α-Fe2O3/graphene aerogel mediated persulfate activation for heterogeneous catalytic degradation of sulfamonomethoxine wastewater

•Macroscopic Zn-doped α-Fe2O3/graphene aerogel used as PS activator was prepared.•The activator efficiently heterogeneous catalytic degradation of SMM wastewater.•Several key reaction parameters affect SMM removal efficiency were investigated.•The improved activity profits by the hybrid structure and surface functional group.•A probable mechanism for SMM degradation by Zn-doped α-Fe2O3/GA was proposed.