Simultaneous recovery of phosphorus with nickel purification in nickel-plating wastewater via Fe/C activated H2O2 oxidation

•Fe/AC-activated H2O2 oxidation achieved efficient P recovery and Ni removal.•Activated carbon promoted the generation of Fe2+ from Fe0 to improve H2O2 activation.•FePO4 from the oxidation of hypophosphite was the major phosphate in the residue.•P recovery in wastewater led to a low P concentration below the discharge limitation.•Simultaneous Ni removal was achieved via Ni complex decomposition.