Influence and mechanism of water matrices on H₂O₂-based Fenton-like oxidation processes: A review

Water matrices often coexist with the target pollutant during H₂O₂-based Fenton-like processes, which affects H₂O₂ activation and pollutant removal. Specifically, water matrices include inorganic anions (such as chloride, sulfate, nitrate, bicarbonate, carbonate and phosphate ions) and natural organic matters (such as humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA)). In this review, the roles and mechanisms of water matrices in various Fenton-like systems were analyzed and summarized comprehensively. Carbonate and phosphate ions usually act as inhibitors. In contrast, the effects of other water matrices are usually controversial. Generally, water matrices can inhibit pollutants degradation through scavenging OH, forming low reactive radicals, adsorbing on catalyst sites, and changing solution pH. However, inorganic anions can exhibit a promotion effect, which is attributed to their complexation with copper ions in mixed contaminants as well as with cobalt and copper ions in catalysts. Furthermore, the photo-reactivity of nitrate and the generation of secondary radicals with long lifetime are conducive to the promotion of inorganic anions. Besides, HA (FA) can be activated by external energy or act as electron shuttle, thus displaying a facilitative effect. This review will provide guidance for the practical applications of the Fenton-like process.