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[Display omitted] • Single atom Co-anchored nitrogen‑doped graphene was developed for PMS activation. • 1O 2 generation was boosted in PMS activation and dominant for pollutant degradation. • The acute toxicity of pollutants was effectively reduced in PMS activation. • Developed catalyst exhibited remarkable cycling stability and negligible leaching. Singlet oxygen (1O 2) is an excellent active species generated in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) that exhibits high selectivity, long life and wide pH tolerance. Therefore, catalysts for highly efficient and selective generation of 1O 2 in AOPs would be highly desirable. This study developed a single atom Co-anchored nitrogen‑doped graphene (Co SAC -NG), which showed excellent catalytic performance for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation and bisphenol A degradation, with the pseudofirst-order reaction rate constant improved from 8.13 × 10−4 min−1 without catalyst to 4.42 × 10−2 min−1 with 5 mg L−1 Co SAC -NG. Mechanism studies indicated that Co SAC -NG selectively enhanced 1O 2 generation, which was the dominant active specie for pollutant degradation. Moreover, the Co SAC -NG/PMS system effectively reduced the acute toxicity of pollutant, and Co SAC -NG exhibited remarkable cycling stability and negligible leaching. This study develops a new catalyst with high selectivity for 1O 2 generation and provides a reference for application of single atom catalyst in PMS-based AOPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]