Insight into combining visible-light photocatalysis with transformation of dual metal ions for enhancing peroxymonosulfate activation over dibismuth copper oxide

•A reaction system was built from PMS activation and photocatalysis over CuBi2O4.•Highly efficient ability for removing PPCPs was achieved.•1O2 and h+ were determined to be dominant active species.•Mechanism based on photocatalysis and transformation of Bi/Cu ions was proposed.