N-doped carbon materials have great potential as functional materials for water pollution control. However, the synthesis of green and sustainable N-doped carbon catalysts face numerous challenges. This study uses a thermal treatment by directly heating a homogeneous mixture of cobalt acetate and dimethylglyoxime to synthesize lamellar ordering Co3O4/N/C compounds. Dimethylglyoxime was chosen to play duple roles as both nitrogen and carbon source. The obtained N-doped carbon material was used as a catalyst for effective aniline degradation by activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS). In this approach, nanomaterials with good catalytic performance, high stability, and magnetic property can be obtained, which facilitate recycle convenience. In this study, graphitic N is found to improve electron mobility, and the lone pair of pyrrolic-like N electrons tends to form effective Co-N-4 moieties with Co species, which can increase the catalyst activity. Therefore, the prepared catalyst has higher activity than individual Co3O4. Furthermore, the effects of N-doped carbon materials on aniline degradation by activated PMS and the proposed reaction pathways for the mineralization of aniline were explain in detailed. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.