Effective treatment of organic wastewater is still a challenge, making it a valuable topic for integrating cutting-edge research into undergraduate chemistry education. This 24 h comprehensive experiment is designed to introduce novel water treatment materials and remediation technology to junior undergraduates and first-year graduates. Centered on the pedagogical goals of knowledge mastery, skill development, problem-solving ability improvement, and experimental literacy cultivation, the experiment engages students in a complete research chain: synthesis of Co-doped AgFeO2 catalysts (AgFe1–xCoxO2) with variable Co contents, characterization of microscopic morphology, crystal phase and structure, and evaluation of catalytic performance for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation by monitoring methyl orange (MO) degradation kinetics and mineralization degree. This experiment is highly feasible to replicate, and its uniqueness lies not only in bridging frontier catalysis research with teaching but also in integrating catalyst synthesis, performance testing, and modern instrumental analysis. Effectiveness is validated by objective data from three cohorts (2023–2025, n = 90 students). This cutting-edge teaching module effectively consolidates core knowledge, advances practical skills, nurtures social responsibility, and inspires the engagement of students in contemporary scientific challenges by linking learning to real-world pollution solutions.
Zuo et al. (Thu,) studied this question.