In　this　study,　a　coral-like　Co-N-doped　carbon　(Co@NC)　was　prepared　through　a　simple　one-pot　synthesis　method.　The　catalyst　effectively　activated　peroxymonosulfate　(PMS)　for　sulfamethazine　(SMZ)　degradation　via　non-radical　pathways,　achieving　a　100　%　removal　efficiency　of　SMZ　within　20　min.　The　Co@NC/PMS　system　maintained　excellent　removal　capability　for　SMZ　under　a　broad　range　of　pH　(3.0–9.0)　and　pollutant　concentrations　(10　mg/L-50　mg/L).　Mechanistic　studies　suggested　that　the　synergistic　interaction　between　Co-Nx　sites　and　graphitic　carbon　facilitated　the　generation　of　singlet　oxygen　(1O2)　and　high　valent　cobalt-oxo　species　(Co(IV)　=　O),　which　played　dominant　roles　in　the　degradation　of　SMZ.　Investigating　the　effects　of　different　concentrations　of　anions　and　humic　acid　on　SMZ　degradation,　the　Co@NC/PMS　system　demonstrated　resistance　to　interference　from　common　water　constituents.　Upon　examining　the　degradation　capability　of　the　Co@NC/PMS　system　against　different　pollutants,　the　system　exhibited　selective　oxidation　towards　organic　pollutants　containing　electron-donating　moieties,　such　as　hydroxyl　and　amide　groups.　This　study　synthesized　a　novel　Co-N-doped　carbon　as　a　highly　efficient　activator　for　PMS　and　conducted　an　in-depth　investigation　into　the　mechanism　of　SMZ　degradation　dominated　by　non-radical　pathways.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd