Cobalt-doped MoS2 catalysts for enhanced peroxymonosulfate activation: Efficient degradation of micropollutants via superoxide radical-dominated pathways

• Co-doped MoS₂ catalyst synthesized hydrothermally, enhancing surface area and charge transfer. • Achieved 81.5% TC removal with a 41-fold higher rate constant than PMS alone. • O₂•⁻ drove TC degradation enabled by Co²⁺/Co³⁺ and Mo⁴⁺/Mo⁶⁺ redox cycles. • Enhancement effects were observed for various other micropollutants. Antibiotic wastewater poses significant environmental risks due to the persistent micropollutants such as tetracycline (TC), which contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance. In this study, cobalt-doped molybdenum disulfide (Co-MoS₂) catalysts were synthesized via the hydrothermal method to enhance peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation for efficient TC degradation. Comprehensive material characterizations (XRD, FT-IR, SEM, XPS) confirmed the successful incorporation of Co into the MoS 2 lattice, resulting in a mesoporous structure with an increased specific surface area, improved charge transfer efficiency, and greater exposure of active sites. Under optimal conditions, the 3.0%Co-MoS₂ catalyst achieved 81.5% TC degradation within 40 min, with a reaction rate constant 41 times higher than that observed with PMS alone. Key operational parameters-including catalyst dosage, PMS concentration, pH, temperature, and the presence of common anions-were systematically optimized, demonstrating the system’s broad applicability for degrading various micropollutants. Radical trapping and EPR analyses identified •O₂⁻ as the dominant reactive species, while the Co²⁺/Co³⁺ and Mo⁴⁺/Mo⁶⁺ redox cycles were found to facilitate continuous PMS activation. Furthermore, four-cycle stability tests confirmed the catalyst’s excellent reusability and potential for practical antibiotic wastewater treatment. This work validates transition metal-doped sulfides as efficient, stable catalysts for antibiotic micropollutant removal via PMS-based advanced oxidation processes.