One-pot hydrothermal synthesis of octahedral CoFe/CoFe2O4 submicron composite as heterogeneous catalysts with enhanced peroxymonosulfate activity

Abstract

Here we report a flexible one-pot hydrothermal synthesis of an octahedral CoFe/CoFe₂O₄ submicron composite used as a superior Fenton-like catalyst for the decomposition of organic pollutants in water. As a peroxymonosulfate (PMS) catalyst, the non-toxic CoFe/CoFe₂O₄ submicron composite can highly efficiently decompose Orange II (30 mg L⁻¹, 1.5 min and 60 mg L⁻¹, 3 min). Especially, the CoFe/CoFe₂O₄ submicron composite exhibits better generalization for the degradation of different organic pollutants and excellent reusability due to its large size and structural stability. Furthermore, its high saturation magnetization (123.7 emu g⁻¹) makes it convenient to magnetically separate from aqueous phase after catalysing the reaction, and its relatively large size is conducive to solving or minimizing secondary pollution. Meanwhile, the probable mechanism of PMS activation with CoFe/CoFe₂O₄ catalyst is proposed.