In　this　work,　CoMn2O4　spinel　catalyst　was　used　for　the　first　time　to　activate　peroxyacetic　acid　(PAA)　for　the　degradation　of　fluoroquinolone　antibiotic　levofloxacin　(LVF).　The　results　showed　that　the　degradation　efficiency　of　CoMn2O4/PAA　system　reached　93%　within　15　min　at　initial　LVF　concentration　of　20　mg/L.　In　addition,　the　bimetallic　oxide　CoMn2O4　with　spinel　structure　showed　significantly　higher　activation　performance　than　the　single　metal　oxide　(Co3O4　and　MnO2).　The　excellent　PAA　activation　performance　by　CoMn2O4　was　attributed　to　the　redox　cycles　between　[tbnd]Co3+/[tbnd]Co2+,　[tbnd]Mn3+/[tbnd]Mn2+,　and　[tbnd]Mn4+/[tbnd]Mn3+,　as　well　as　the　synergistic　interaction　between　Co　and　Mn　species.　Radical　quenching　and　electron　paramagnetic　resonance　(EPR)　spectra　results　indicated　that　acetylperoxyl　radical　(CH3C(O)OO·)　was　the　dominant　radical　species,　and　this　work　highlighted　that　1O2　played　an　important　role　in　non-radical　process　in　PAA-based　AOPs　for　the　first　time.　The　production　of　1O2　may　be　attributed　to　the　interaction　between　reactive　oxygen　(O*)　and　PAA.　In　addition,　the　CoMn2O4/PAA　system　has　been　proved　to　have　great　stability　and　reusability,　and　exhibit　selective　degradation　of　organic　pollutants　which　contained　electron-rich　groups.　Overall,　this　work　presents　perspective　for　the　application　of　antibiotic　remediation　by　CoMn2O4/PAA　process.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd