A versatile strategy to eliminate emerging contaminants from the aqueous environment: Heterogeneous Fenton process

Abstract

The ever increasing trend in the consumption or usage of pharmaceuticals, personal care products, flame retardants, and steroid estrogens dangerously increases their presence in almost all the environmental matrices. The current need is to bring to the notice of the researchers that these compounds are present in the water and wastewater treatment plants in trace levels. In this context, it has emerged as a matter of grave concern to eliminate these contaminants via a sustainable route. This review substantiates the versatility of various heterogeneous Fenton catalysts to degrade a wide variety of emerging contaminants in a sustainable manner. This approach would be definitely benefitted by a wider scientific population who are working in the area of water pollution control, wastewater treatment and catalysis for sustainable environmental remediation. Different iron based heterogeneous Fenton catalysts such as supported and unsupported iron catalysts of zero valent iron, iron oxides, multimetallic systems are found to be effective for the removal of emerging contaminants. More than 80% of degradation were achieved for almost all the classes of emerging contaminants. Presence of UV/Visible light, ultrasound, electricity, and addition of complexing agents aided in enhancing the Fenton activity.