Co-MOF as a highly efficient catalyst for contaminants degradation via sulfite activation.

• Co-MOFs were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal process. • Co-MOFs showed high activity for MO degradation via SO 3 2− activation. • The mechanism of pollutants degradation with SO 3 2− was illustrated. • The influence of several reaction parameters was studied. Activation of sulfite (SO 3 2−) by heterogeneous catalysts draws increasing attention due to their promising performance and environmental benignity. In this work, Co-based metal organic framework (Co-MOF) was synthesized and directly used as a catalyst to activate SO 3 2− for contaminants degradation. The Co-MOF catalyst exhibited high catalytic activity for Methyl Orange (MO) degradation in alkaline aqueous solution. Impressively, the catalytic performance of Co-MOF was more efficient than Co2+ and cobalt oxides of Co 3 O 4 , CoFe 2 O 4 and Co nanoparticles embedded in carbon tubes. Radical quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance suggested that special coordination and redox of Co(II) and Co(III) in the pristine of Co-MOF initiated a series of chain reaction of SO 3 2− oxidation, with the formation of several oxysulfur radicals such as SO 3 −• and SO 4 −•. This work provides new insights into the stereoscopic cobalt based catalysts of sulfite catalysis and can guide new insights in future catalyst development in advanced oxidation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]