Persulfate activation technology based on carbon-based catalyst for removal of phenolic pollutants from water

Abstract

Phenolic compounds constitute a broad category of extensively utilized chemical entities, the environmental residue of which has elicited substantial concerns regarding its deleterious impacts on natural ecology and human health. Over the past years, persulfate-based advanced oxidation technology (PS-AOPs), attributable to its effective degradation capacity for organic contaminants in aqueous environments, has garnered increasing interest among the scientific community. Relative to metal-based catalysts, their carbon-based counterparts possess distinct advantages such as non-toxicity, robust pH adaptability, appropriate pore volume, and extensive specific surface area, and have thus found considerable applications in activating PS for the removal of phenolic pollutants in water. This article provides a comprehensive review of recent research advancements concerning the use of carbon-based catalysts— including graphene, activated carbon, biochar, and metal-carbon composite materials — for the activation of PS aimed at phenolic pollutant removal. Additionally, it suggests potential trajectories for future investigations in this field.