Amorphous CoxOy with nano-flake structure for activated persulfate degradation of p-nitrophenol

Transition metal oxides can activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to produce reactive species to degrade pollutants. In this work, we prepared an amorphous CoxOy with nanosheet structure activator to activate PMS and remove pnitrophenol (PNP). We discussed the degradation performance of PNP by CoxOy/PMS system under different parameters, under the optimum technological conditions, CoxOy has excellent and rapid catalytic activity. In the presence of different anions (Cl, HCO3), humic acids and pH (3-11), CoxOy can still maintain favourable catalytic activity. Active species produced in the CoxOy/PMS system were investigated, Sulfate radical (SO4 center dot-) and singlet oxygen (O-1(2)) dominated the degradation of pollutants. This work demonstrates the favourable activity of amorphous CoxOy for degradation of organic pollutants.