Electrochemical reduction of bromate using noble metal-free nanoscale zero-valent iron immobilized activated carbon fiber electrode

•Nanoscale zero-valent iron immobilized activated carbon fiber material was prepared.•The nZVI/ACF plays a noble metal-free electrode for electrocatalytic BrO3− reduction.•The BrO3− reduction could be performed in a wide dissolved oxygen and pH range.•The possible mechanisms involved in the reaction process were explained.