Iron encapsulated in boron and nitrogen codoped carbon nanotubes as synergistic catalysts for Fenton-like reaction

•Fe@C-BN catalysts were fabricated by a simple and scalable pyrolysis method.•Catalytic performance of Fe@C-BN was affected by several key operating parameters.•Hydroxyl and sulfate radicals participating in Fenton-like process were identified.•Enhanced activity was ascribed to synergistic effect of iron and N, B-doped carbon.•Metal NPs embedded in carbon can be protected from leaching in the different media.