Efficient degradation of carbamazepine by polydopamine-decorated Co/N@ZS activated peroxymonosulfate: performance and mechanism

The development of high-performance catalysts for the activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) remains a persistent challenge in the degradation of contaminants in waste-water. Herin, a catalyst Co/N@ZS-PDA, possessing excellent recovery and recyclability, was synthesized by employing the structurally ordered Co/N@ZS and polydopamine with strong adhesion. This catalyst effectively activated 0.30 g/L PMS for the degradation of 20 mg/L carbamazepine (CBZ), demonstrating a remarkable degradation rate of 94.46%. The combination of EPR analysis and ROS quenching research revealed that CBZ degradation is caused by both radical (SO₄^•− and O₂^•−) and non-radical (¹O₂ and electron transfer) processes. In addition, the possible degradation pathways were proposed based on the identification of intermediate products through LC-MS analyses. More importantly, the catalyst-assisted thin films exhibit exceptional stability and long-term efficacy in dynamic water treatment. The present study provides innovative perspectives on the application of highly efficient and stable catalysts in water treatment procedures for advanced oxidation processes (AOPs).