Enhanced PMS activation efficiency and SMX degradation performance via Fe(II)/Fe(III) cycling with efficient CCF@MoS2@GA-Fe catalyst

Antibiotics, widely used to treat bacterial infections and as agricultural feed additives, pose significant environmental threats due to their persistence, particularly sulfamethoxazole (SMX), which is frequently detected in various ecosystems. Traditional wastewater treatment methods are often ineffective in their removal. This study presents a cost-effective three-dimensional CCF@MoS 2 @GA-Fe (CMGF) catalyst, with cotton fabric as a support to enhance peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). Findings indicates that Mo(IV) active sites in CMGF significantly enhanced electron transfer and redox cycling of Fe(II)/Fe(III), ensuring sustained PMS activation and achieving approximately 3.8 times higher degradation efficiency compared to non-catalytic processes. After five cycles, CMGF retains its high catalytic activity. Key active species during PMS activation include singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ), hydroxyl radicals (•OH), and sulfate radicals (SO 4 − •). This research elucidates the catalytic mechanisms and degradation pathways of the CMGF/PMS system, highlighting its potential for removing organic pollutants from water.