Insight into the activation of peracetic acid by cobalt-nitrogen-doped porous carbon for efficient norfloxacin degradation: Performance and mechanism

Exploring effective, economical, and environmentally friendly peracetic acid (PAA) activation methods are crucial in water purification. In this work, a cobalt -nitrogen -doped porous carbon (Co -N -C) composite was synthesized by direct carbonization of ZIF-67 and employed as a PAA activator for the degradation of norfloxacin (NX). The Co-N-C/PAA system demonstrated rapid degradation of NX across a wide pH range and displayed robust resistance to common radical scavengers, anions, and natural organics. The Co species and the surface functional groups of the Co -N -C composite were the primary active sites for PAA activation. 1O2 played a dominated role, and OH & sdot;, R-O & sdot; and Co (IV) played nonnegligible roles on NX degradation in the Co-N-C/PAA system. Two probable degradation pathways of NX were confirmed using the density functional theory and high-performance liquid chromatography -mass spectrometry. In addition, Co -N -C exhibited great stability in the oxidation process and had the potential to be applied in practical water treatment. Taken together, these findings may help advance research on the use of cobalt -nitrogen -doped porous carbon for PAA activation to remove organic pollutants.