Promoted BPA degradation in food waste leachate via alkali-fluffed CoFe₂O₄@CoSiO_x activated PMS under the assistance of inherent acetate

The removal of bisphenol A (BPA) from food waste leachate (FWL) is challenging but of great significance. Herein, an alkali post-treatment approach was performed to obtain the fluffed hybrid‑cobalt core-shell nano-catalyst (AF-CoFe₂O₄@CoSiO_x) for the activation of PMS to degrade BPA with high efficiency. The comprehensive results from electron paramagnetic resonance technology, chemical probes and radical scavengers revealed the radical and non-radical pathways are co-existed in the system, and both of which could be promoted by accelerating the valence state cycling of Co(III)/Co(II) with the presence of acetate (Ac⁻). As an inherent component, the appropriate amount of Ac⁻ facilitated the degradation of the electron-rich contaminants in practical FWL, especially BPA (100% removal). Furthermore, the magnetic core of AF-CoFe₂O₄@CoSiO_x also enabled its good recycling with easy operation. The rational design of the core-shell nano-catalysts and the exploring of the overlooked important role of non-radical pathways stimulated by the inherent components in actual wastewater in this study offered a promising win-win strategy to realize BPA treatment in the future.