To　enhance　the　contaminant　removal　efficiency　of　the　electro-Fenton　(E-Fenton)　process,　a　nitrogen　and　phosphorus　co-doped　graphite　felt　(NPGF)　cathode　was　synthesized　using　an　anodic　oxidation　technique.　An　ascorbic　acid-coupled　NPGF　E-Fenton　system　was　then　established　for　the　degradation　of　ciprofloxacin　(CIP).　The　NPGF　cathode　featured　abundant　oxygen-containing　functional　groups　(such　as　-COOH　and　-OH),　which　enhanced　the　selectivity　of　oxygen　reduction　and　facilitated　the　formation　of　H2O2.　The　introduction　of　N　and　P　doping　disrupted　the　charge　balance　within　the　carbon　framework,　accelerating　electron　transfer.　Together,　the　NPGF　electrode　and　ascorbic　acid　enhanced　the　cycling　of　Fe3+/Fe2+　while　preventing　the　formation　of　iron　sludge.　Under　optimal　conditions　(ascorbic　acid　concentration　of　0.3　mM,　current　density　of　2.0　mA　cm−2,　pH　of　3.0,　aeration　rate　of　0.6　L　min−1,　and　Fe2+　concentration　of　0.2　mM),　CIP　was　completely　removed　within　20　min.　The　NPGF　electrode　exhibited　excellent　stability,　maintaining　95.35%　CIP　removal　even　after　8　cycles.　Analysis　revealed　that　singlet　oxygen　primarily　mediated　the　degradation　of　CIP,　with　its　concentration　measured　at　1.23　×　10−7　M.　Density　functional　theory　was　used　to　analyze　the　characteristics　and　potential　attack　sites　of　CIP,　enabling　the　proposal　of　plausible　degradation　pathways.　Toxicity　simulations　and　Escherichia　coli　growth　inhibition　experiments　demonstrated　a　reduction　in　the　toxicity　of　CIP　and　its　intermediate　products.　This　study　offers　a　valuable　reference　for　improving　the　efficiency　of　E-Fenton　technology　in　antibiotic　wastewater　treatment.　©　2024　Elsevier　Inc.