The effective polymeric macromolecule as peroxymonosulfate activator as an alternative to metal oxides in the treatment of organic dye pollutants

Abstract

Catalyst efficiency is affected by inhomogeneous catalyst atom placement on the substrate, leading to nano-level aggregation and reduced performance. Research on single-atom catalysts aims to place them at the atomic level to maximize efficiency, but faces challenges and high costs. This study presents a cost-effective approach using polymeric phthalocyanine Co(II) complex (poly-CoPc) prepared by a simple method. Poly-CoPc shows superior catalytic activity by acting as a catalyst without requiring additional processing. Co(II) atoms in the polymer matrix are covalently coordinated into single atoms and inhibit nanoparticle growth. The poly-CoPc/PMS system outperforms Co3O4 and unsubstituted cobalt phthalocyanine, achieving 97.06% Rhodamine B degradation in 20 min. Furthermore, the poly-CoPc proves to be the most effective, with a degradation efficiency of 69.94% for tap water and 95.76% for seawater, producing predominantly 1O2. These results position poly-CoPc as a promising PMS activator for environmental treatment that surpasses metal oxide derivatives in terms of activity and properties.