Cobalt-catalyzed sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation: A review on heterogeneous catalysts and applications

Recently sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs) attract increasing attention due to their capability and adaptability in decontamination. The couple of cobalt and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) is an efficient way to produce reactive sulfate radicals. This article reviews the state-of-the-art progress on various heterogeneous cobalt-based catalysts for PMS activation, including cobalt oxides, cobalt-ferrite and supported cobalt by diverse substrates. We summarize the intrinsic properties of these catalysts and their fundamental behaviors in PMS activation, as well as synthetic approaches. In addition, influencing factors and synergistic techniques of Co/PMS systems in organic degradation and possible environmental applications are also discussed. Finally, we propose perspectives on challenges related to cobalt-based catalysts, heterogeneous Co/PMS systems and their potential applications in practical environmental cleanup.