Unraveling the role of V modified CoO in a wide pH range Fenton-like process

Building an effective heterogeneous Fenton catalyst over a broad pH range without the requirement for external energy input is still challenging. Herein, a vanadium-cobalt bimetallic catalyst (Co-V-8) are employed to extended a pH range of 3–9 by activating H 2 O 2 as a Fenton-like catalyst. The Co-based Co-V-8 catalysts demonstrate high diclofenac sodium deterioration efficiency (98.2%) under both acidic and alkaline environments, and the kinetic reaction rate within 15 min could reach 0.288 min −1 . Crucially, density functional theory (DFT) calculations imply that the Co-V-8 owned a narrower band gap and a higher Fermi level, which beneficial for quickening the electron transfer process. Results showed that the catalyst modified by V could introduce abundant oxygen vacancies, promote the decomposition of H 2 O 2 via V 3+ and V 4+ , and enhance the conversion of Co 3+ and Co 2+ , accelerating the formation of · OH, · OOH, · O − 2 and electron transfer process. Additionally, Co-V-8 promoted the utilization rate of H 2 O 2 exceeding 90% and exhibited exceptional catalytic ability in cleaning actual pharmaceutical wastewater. This research offers a sustainable separable and purification technology for wastewater remediation.