• • Cubic hematite (HNCs) achieved superior PSDOM degradation, reducing TOC from 18.4 to 12.3 mg·L−1 in 90 min, versus 13.3 mg·L−1 for flake-shaped HNPs, indicating morphology-specific catalytic efficiency for organic pollutant removal.
• • HNCs amplified singlet oxygen (1O2) steady-state concentration to 2.80 times the PSDOM control, while HNPs elevated hydroxyl radical (·OH) levels to 1.98 times, demonstrating selective reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation pathways that can be tailored for targeted degradation.
• • Both hematite morphologies suppressed carbon-centered radical (CH3C(=O)OO·) formation across all tested solvents, suggesting a potential mechanism to control radical-mediated side reactions and influence degradation pathways.
• • The steady-state concentration of 1O2 was approximately 10^3 times higher than that of ·OH in all hematite-amended systems, underscoring the dominant role of singlet oxygen in PSDOM photodegradation and guiding oxidant selection for remediation strategies.