Citation: Wensheng Li, Zhiqiang Sun, Yidi Chen, Xiaoguang Duan, Chuling Guo, Zhi Dang, Shih-Hsin Ho, Shishu Zhu. Fenton-like catalysis of single-atom Co-N₄ for polymeric transformation and recovery of benzohydroxamic acid in mineral processing wastewater[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(5): 111791. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111791 shu

Fenton-like catalysis of single-atom Co-N₄ for polymeric transformation and recovery of benzohydroxamic acid in mineral processing wastewater

Wensheng Li ^a ,
Zhiqiang Sun ^b ,
Yidi Chen ^c ,
Xiaoguang Duan ^d ,
Chuling Guo ^a ,
Zhi Dang ^a ,
Shih-Hsin Ho ^{b, *,} ,
Shishu Zhu ^{a, *,}

a.
The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
b.
State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
c.
State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Ecology and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
d.
School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia

stephen6949@hit.edu.cn

zhushishu@scut.edu.cn

Received Date: 26 March 2025
Revised Date: 3 July 2025
Accepted Date: 4 September 2025
Available Online: 5 September 2025

Figures(4)

Benzohydroxamic acid (BHA) occurs as recalcitrant organic pollutant discharged from mining industry. While Fenton-like oxidation based on peroxymonosulfate (PMS) has been extensively applied for organic contamination mitigation, its conventional reaction pathway dependent on free radicals needs high energy input with elevated carbon emission. Here, we meticulously developed a novel single-atom catalyst featuring Co-N₄ coordination (Co_x@NC) to initiate a non-radical Fenton-like oxidation for BHA treatment. Results showed single-atom Co-N₄ with the considerable Co content (>2 wt%) and quantitative N coordination displayed exceptional reactivity to activate PMS for BHA degradation with a turnover frequency > 16 min⁻¹. Such single-atom Co-N₄ formed a surface-reactive complexes with mild oxidation potential by coordinating with PMS to mediate electron transfer for oxidation of BHA. The mediated ETP further triggered polymerization transformation pathway of BHA through formation and coupling of phenoxy-like radicals, resulting in a considerable recovery yield of BHA polymers (~43%) and superior utilization efficiency of PMS (~434%). Combined with ultrahigh-resolution mass analysis, the identified polymerized products illustrated the related polymerization mechanisms of BHA including hydroxylation, monomer radical generation, dimerization, and chain extension. Such Fenton-like catalysis of single-atom Co-N₄ exhibited more remarkable application potentials in mineral processing wastewater treatment compared to traditional Fenton reaction, reducing oxidant consumption and increasing organic carbon recovery. This study enhances development of resource-efficient Fenton-like oxidation technologies for mineral processing wastewater treatment.
- Fenton-like oxidation,
- Single atom catalyst,
- Mineral processing wastewater,
- Electron transfer process,
- Polymerization
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通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

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沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院沈阳 110142

Fenton-like catalysis of single-atom Co-N4 for polymeric transformation and recovery of benzohydroxamic acid in mineral processing wastewater

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通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

Fenton-like catalysis of single-atom Co-N₄ for polymeric transformation and recovery of benzohydroxamic acid in mineral processing wastewater