Manipulating the morphology of 3D flower-like CoMn2O4 bimetallic catalyst for enhancing the activation of peroxymonosulfate toward the degradation of selected persistent pharmaceuticals in water

A 3D flower-like CoMn2O4 catalyst was synthesized via hydrothermal-calcination technique as peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activator for the remediation of pharmaceuticals, exemplified by antibiotics tetracycline (TC) in aqueous solutions. TC degradation in the CoMn2O4-PMS system took place over a broad pH range of 5 to 9. Different water matrices (tap water and lake water) did not affect the efficiency of CoMn2O4/PMS system. Multiple uses of CoMn2O4 did not alter the surface properties and catalytic TC degradation efficiency. The dissolution of component metal ions was below the allowable drinking water standard. Carbon oxidation state was increased from −0.51 to 1.2, indicating high degree of mineralization. Non-radical, specifically singlet oxygen, and radical, namely, hydroxyl and sulfate radical, contributed 30.6% and 68.4% to TC degradation, respectively. The CoMn2O4-PMS system was efficient in the degradation of several pharmaceuticals, including tetracycline, SMX, Cipro CIP and BPA.