Heterogeneous Peroxymonosulfate-Based Advanced Oxidation Mechanisms: New Wine in Old Bottles?

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Water Treatment Technologies

Background:

• Heterogeneous persulfate-based advanced oxidation processes (PS-AOPs) are increasingly vital for water and wastewater treatment.
• Elucidating the complex reaction mechanisms within PS-AOPs is challenging due to expanding knowledge of reactive pathways and rigorous characterization demands.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide practical guidelines for accurately illustrating PS-AOP mechanisms.
• To systematically compile established techniques and critical issues in PS-AOP research.
• To introduce and compare the direct oxidation transfer process (DOTP) with conventional reactive oxidative species (ROS) pathways.

Main Methods:

• Systematic compilation of established techniques for PS-AOP mechanism investigation.
• Critical analysis of existing methodologies and their limitations.
• Comparative discussion of the proposed DOTP pathway against conventional ROS mineralization.

Main Results:

• Identified complexities and challenges in current PS-AOP mechanism studies.
• Proposed the direct oxidation transfer process (DOTP) as a potential alternative pathway.
• Highlighted the need for standardization in PS-AOP mechanism investigation.

Conclusions:

• Accurate illustration of PS-AOP mechanisms requires robust methodologies and consideration of substrate influence.
• The proposed DOTP pathway offers a new perspective on PS-AOP reactivity.
• Standardization of investigation methods is crucial for advancing the understanding and application of heterogeneous PS-AOPs in water treatment.