Spent　zinc-manganese　battery　electrode　material　(ZMB)　was　innovatively　used　as　precursor.　Through　a　simplified　＇washing　–　ball　milling　–　calcination＇　process　on　ZMB,　a　new　activator　(denoted　as　BWZMB492)　was　developed　for　the　peroxymonosulfate　(PMS)　activation　and　emerging　contaminants　removal.　The　BWZMB492/PMS　system　can　achieve　complete　removal　of　20　mg·L−1　acetaminophen　(APAP)　within　6　min.　Through　the　quenching,　probing,　and　premixing　experiment,　the　contribution　of　reactive　oxygen　species　was　excluded,　and　the　dominant　role　of　electron　transfer　process　(ETP)　was　confirmed.　Experimental　results　show　that　PMS　tends　to　preferentially　adsorb　and　form　the　BWZMB492/PMS*　complex.　Meanwhile,　APAP　acts　as　an　electron　donor　and　promotes　the　occurrence　of　ETP.　Furthermore,　nine　pollutants　with　varying　electrophilicity　indices　were　selected　for　removal　experiments　and　electrochemical　testing.　These　pollutants　with　lower　electrophilicity　indices,　demonstrate　superior　removal　efficiency　in　the　BWZMB492/PMS　system.　The　results　indicate　that　the　removal　effect　and　mechanism　are　correlated　with　pollutant　electrophilicity　index.　©　2025　Elsevier　B.V.