Single-Atom Co-N3 Sites Supported on Waste Paper-Derived Active Carbon for Synergistic Adsorption and Catalytic Degradation of Antibiotics

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are emerging heterogeneous catalysts, which have been shown to be promising for a wide range of applications. Herein, we report the fabrication of single-atom Co sites with regulated Co-N3 co-ordination supported on waste paper-derived active carbon (WPAC). The high specific surface area (535.2 m2 g 1) and active Co-N3 single sites endowed the Co-N3/WPAC with high adsorption capacity and excellent cat-alytic performance. The maximum adsorption capacity of sulfisoxazole (SIZ) onto Co-N3/WPAC reached 274.5 mg g 1 bifunctional properties of Co-N3/WPAC led to the efficient preconcentration of organic pollutants from aqueous solution as well as in-situ oxidation of them via the catalytic oxidation process. In addition, the Co-N3/WPAC+PS system exhibited a wide operating pH range (3 11), high mineralization capacity (-89.3 %) and excellent reusability for the degradation of SIZ. Mechanism studies suggested that the Co-N3 active sites were responsible for enhanced generation of the reactive oxygen species via PS activation, and both radical and non-radical processes contributed to the oxidation of SIZ. This work provides new insights into the resourceful disposal of waste paper and the application of SACs for environmental remediation. , and the removal percentage of SIZ reached-93.0 % within 1.0 min in the Co-N3/WPAC+PS system. The