Excellent performance of mesoporous Co3O4/MnO2 nanoparticles in heterogeneous activation of peroxymonosulfate for phenol degradation in aqueous solutions

Mesoporous α-MnO2 and its supported Co3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized, characterized and tested in heterogeneous activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for phenol degradation in aqueous solution. α-MnO2 supported Co3O4 presented as nanorod particles and showed H2 redox reduction at low temperature. Bulk α-MnO2 and Co3O4 could activate peroxymonosulfate to generate sulfate radicals for phenol degradation but at low activity. Co3O4/MnO2 nanoparticles exhibited much high activity in peroxymonosulfate activation for phenol degradation with 100% conversion in 20 min and 3 wt% is the optimum Co loading. Phenol degradation followed a first order kinetics. Stability tests also showed that Co3O4/MnO2 presented stable performance in phenol degradation in several runs.

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► Mesoporous MnO2 exhibited activity in peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation.
► Co/MnO2 nanoparticles presented better performance than Co2+/PMS in phenol degradation.
► Phenol degradation on Co/MnO2 followed first order kinetics.