A review on the use of chelating agents as an alternative to promote photo-Fenton at neutral pH: Current trends, knowledge gap and future studies

Bromide as Noninnocent Ligand to Iron Tames Fenton Chemistry for Chemoselective Nondegrading Oxidation

It has long been the chemistry dogma that the nitrogen-based ligand of iron complexes determines the redox reactivity; tetra- and/or pentadentate nitrogen-based ligand (N-ligand: PDP, porphyrin, N4Py) enables chemo-selective oxidation through high-valent iron species (FeIV/V═O), while bi- and/or tridentate N-ligand leads to the generation of highly reactive oxygen species (ROS) (i.e., hydroxyl radical) via a Fenton chemistry pathway. The effect of inorganic anionic ligands (i.e., halides, pseudohalides, triflate, nitrate, sulfate, etc) of these iron complexes has rarely been examined and overlooked as an "innocent" anion. Herein, we report our discovery that bromide (Br-) is not an innocent ligand to the iron-BPMA complexes [BMPA: bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine] but a decisive factor for taming the Fenton chemistry (ROS) into a mild [HOBr] oxidant, which allows for chemo- and regioselective oxidation of furans, indoles, and sulfides without noticeable degradation. In contrast to the conventional Fenton chemistry pathway by many tridentate N-ligand iron complexes, our [Fe(BMPA)Br3] mimics haloperoxidases to generate HOBr by oxidation of bromide ion with hydrogen peroxide. The discovery of the bromide effect on iron complexes bridges the gap between Fenton chemistry and haloperoxidase-catalyzed halogenation and might stimulate interest in reinvestigating the "innocent" ligand of iron complexes for discovery of new reactivity and new applications. Additionally, the new catalytic system represents a mild and green oxidation method that might be useful in academia and industry.

Fenton-coagulation process for simultaneous abatement of micropollutants and dissolved organic carbon in treated wastewater

This study demonstrates the integration of the Fenton reaction into the flocculation process at circumneutral pH (6-7), offering a practical approach for simultaneous micropollutant and organic matter removal in wastewater treatment. Unlike conventional Fenton oxidation, which requires acidic conditions, this approach allows Fe(II) to react with hydrogen peroxide at near-neutral pH, forming Fe(III) flocs that enhance flocculation while also generating reactive species for pollutant degradation. At pH 6, hydroxyl radicals were the dominant oxidants, whereas at pH 7, additional reactive species likely contributed to micropollutant removal. Bisphenol A and benzoic acid were removed by approximately 90% at 1 mM peroxide and 2 mM iron. In addition to micropollutant degradation, the Fenton-coagulation process achieved substantial dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal, which was not observed with Fenton oxidation alone or ozonation. DOC removal was up to 51% in Suwannee River Natural Organic Matter solutions, whereas only 30% of DOC was removed from municipal wastewater effluent, likely due to differences in organic matter composition. These findings highlight the potential of Fenton-coagulation as an effective and scalable treatment strategy for wastewater reuse, improving both pollutant degradation and organic matter removal under practical conditions.

Peroxide Directing the Iron Cycling for Tailored Generation of Active Oxidants in Aqueous Fenton Reactions

The diverse electron transfer between iron and peroxides endows Fenton and related reactions with versatility in generating multiple active oxidants, underpinning their important contribution to environmental remediation. The type of active oxidant generated can be tailored by the structure of peroxides, yet the underlying mechanism remains to be uncovered. Herein, taking the reaction of Fe(III)-picolinate (FeIII-PICA) with peroxides as an examplary case, we provide a detailed structure-activity analysis to clarify this issue. Experimental results show that the reaction of FeIII-PICA with H2O2, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, and isopropyl hydroperoxide initiates the Haber-Weiss cycle to generate radicals exclusively, whereas the reaction with peroxymonosulfate, peracetic acid, and m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid generates Fe(IV). Theoretical calculations reveal that the peroxide-dependent generation of active oxidants is attributed to the selectivity in the lysis of the PICA-FeIII-OOR intermediate, which serves as a rate-limiting step in Fenton reactions. The inductive effect of R dynamically modulates the strength of Fe-O/O-O bonding and the stability of cleavage products to favor Fe-O homolysis of PICA-FeIII-OOR toward Fe(III)/Fe(II) cycling. Conversely, the coordination of R to Fe(III) stabilizes transition states to favor O-O homolysis for Fe(III)/Fe(IV) cycling. These findings are believed to shed new light on the pathway selectivity of iron cycling in aqueous Fenton reactions.

Tuning the thermodynamic and kinetic performance of Fenton process - effects of dissolved anions/gases and temperature

Inorganic anions such as chloride (Cl-), nitrate (NO 3 - ), sulfate (SO 4 2 - ), carbonate (CO 3 2 - ), bicarbonate (HCO 3 - ), dihydrogen phosphate (H 2 PO 4 - ), fluoride (F-) are ubiquitous in water matrices, play a significant role in the degradation of organic pollutants by Fenton process. In the present study, the performance of Fenton process in the presence of these anions was studied using phenol as a model compound along with the underlying mechanism and their tolerance limit. The presence of these anions affects the rate constant of the Fenton process and decreases in the following order, ClO 4 - -NO 3 - -SO 4 2 - -Cl- > HCO 3 -  > CO 3 2 -  > H 2 PO 4 -  > F-. Among the anions studied, H 2 PO 4 - and F- ions inhibit the oxidation process at a low concentration of 50 mg/L. The chloride ion inhibits the reaction at high concentrations above 1000 mg/L by a factor of 1.1 times for every 500 mg/L. An increase in temperature from 293 to 323 K increases the rate constant of the Fenton process for the phenolic compounds studied (phenol, 2-chlorophenol, 2-nitrophenol and 2-methylphenol) by 1.3-1.5. The energy of activation (Ea), enthalpy of activation (ΔHa) and entropy of activation (ΔSa) for the degradation of phenolic compounds were found to be 6.68-10.14 kJ/mol; 4.16-7.56 kJ/mol and -273.36 to -264.30 JK-1mol-1.

Adsorption - Advanced oxidation process (AAOP) for the heavy metals and organic matter removal from leachate using combined filtration -Fenton's and Photo-Fenton's treatment

Design of cost - effective filtration unit was carried out to evaluate the efficiency of different filter media made of locally available materials to treat raw leachate. Four different filter media laterites, peat, bagasse and a mixture of all were considered as study filter media for the removal of Zinc, Nickel, Copper and Lead from raw leachate. The reactor exhibited a significant removal efficiency when the three-filter media were combined as a combination. A removal rate of around 83.0% and 64.12% was found for nickel and copper, respectively, with a combined filter medium. The order of heavy metal removal varied depending on the kind of filter media used. For combined filter media, the sequence was Ni > Cu > Pb > Zn. For bagasse filter media, it was Pb > Cu > Zn > Ni. For peat filter media, it was Ni > Cu > Pb > Zn. For laterite filter media, it was Zn > Cu > Ni > Pb. Insignificant removal of heavy metals was observed with bagasse in the current investigation and hence is not recommended for use as a filter medium. Pre-treated leachate was subjected to Fenton's oxidation and UV-Fenton's oxidation for organic matter removal. Green synthesized bleached laterite iron nanoparticles were used as a catalyst in the Fenton treatment. COD removal of 80.0% and 85.0% was observed with 0.5 g/L of nano iron catalyst and 500 mg/L of H2O2 and 100 mg/L of H2O2 on Fenton's oxidation and UV-Fenton's oxidation respectively. The synthesized particles were demonstrated to possess a catalytic function in the reduction of COD. Both Fenton's oxidation and UV-Fenton's oxidation exhibit pseudo-first-order kinetics with linear regression.

Sono-photo-Fenton action is improved by the addition of Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa Degener (yellow passion fruit)

The improvement of the sono-photo-Fenton process at nearby neutral pH (~ 6.2) and high iron concentration (5 mg L-1) by the addition of the juice of Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa Degener (yellow passion fruit) on the degradation of imipenem in water is reported for the first time. Considering that the combination of sonochemistry with photo-Fenton takes advantage of the in situ sonogeneration of H2O2, the effects of frequency and acoustic power for the H2O2 accumulation were established initially. The sonication at 578 kHz and 23.8 W favored the H2O2 generation. Using such frequency and power, the antibiotic was synergistically degraded by the sono-photo-Fenton system in distilled water, leading to ~ 90% removal at 120 min of treatment. An atomic charge analysis showed that thioether, β-lactam ring, and carboxylic acid moieties on the imipenem structure were very prone to interactions with the HO• generated in the sono-photo-Fenton process. Indeed, the primary transformation products (TPs) came from the oxidation of the thioether, the opening of the β-lactam ring, and decarboxylations. Such TPs had a lower probability than imipenem to be active against bacteria. Besides, the addition of small amounts (2.5-10 µL) of the yellow passion fruit juice to the sono-photo-Fenton system significantly improved the pharmaceutical elimination. However, a juice excess (e.g., 100 µL) caused a detrimental effect due to competing effects by radicals. The juice of the yellow passion fruit induced analogous effects to citric acid (a commercial complexing agent) on the sono-photo-Fenton process. Indeed, the degradation of imipenem in simulated hospital wastewater by sono-photo-Fenton was improved by the yellow passion fruit juice (~ 38% at 60 min), and it was similar to that with citric acid (~ 39% of removal at 60 min). Thus, the commercial reagent can be replaced by a natural and low-cost complexing agent (e.g., yellow passion fruit juice or fruit wastes containing citric acid), as an enhancer of the sono-photo-Fenton process carried out at near-neutral pH and high iron concentration for degrading imipenem in water.

Application of Fenton's Reaction for Removal of Organic Matter from Groundwater

In this study, the effectiveness of the Fenton process in removing natural organic matter (NOM) from groundwater was investigated. The subject of this study is groundwater characterised by increased content of NOM and iron (II) compounds. In laboratory-scale studies, the influence of the ratio of concentrations of Fe(II) ions, which are naturally occurring in groundwater, to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as well as oxidation time and pH on the removal efficiency of organic matter was determined. Indicators such as total organic carbon (TOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), UV absorbance at 254 nm (UV254), UV absorbance at 272 nm (UV272), and specific UV absorbance (SUVA254) were used to quantitatively and qualitatively assess the organic substances present in the raw water and after oxidation with Fenton's reagent. Analysis of the results obtained showed that the highest removal efficiency of organic substances in the deep oxidation process using the Fenton reaction was obtained for a concentration ratio of Fe(II) to H2O2 = 1:5. Acidification of the water samples to a pH of about 4 and extending the oxidation time to 30 min significantly increased the removal efficiency of organic substances including mainly dissolved organic substances containing aromatic rings. The organic substances containing aromatic rings, determined at a wavelength of 254 nm, were degraded to other organic intermediates.

Advancements in Inorganic Membrane Filtration Coupled with Advanced Oxidation Processes for Wastewater Treatment

Membrane filtration is an effective water recycling and purification technology to remove various pollutants in water. Inorganic membrane filtration (IMF) technology has received widespread attention because of its unique high temperature and corrosion resistance. Commonly used inorganic membranes include ceramic membranes and carbon-based membranes. As novel catalytic inorganic membrane processes, IMF coupled with advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), can realize the separation and in situ degradation of pollutants, thus mitigating membrane contamination. In this paper, the types and performance of IMF are discussed. The influencing factors of inorganic membranes in practical wastewater treatment are summarized. The applications, advantages, and disadvantages of the coupled process of IMF and AOPs are summarized and outlined. Finally, the challenges and prospects of IMF and IMF coupled with AOPs are presented, respectively. This contributes to the design and development of coupled systems of membrane filtration with inorganic materials and IMF coupled with AOPs for practical wastewater treatment.

Epoxiconazole degradation in water samples: a comparative study of Fenton, photo-Fenton, solar photo-Fenton, and solar photolysis processes

Epoxiconazole (EPO) is classified as a persistent organic pollutant due to its ability to persist in the environment for prolonged periods. Its degradation is pivotal in mitigating its environmental impact. This investigation focuses on assessing the degradation of EPO using various methodologies, namely Fenton, photo-Fenton, solar photo-Fenton, and solar photolysis, conducted in both Milli-Q water and groundwater. These experiments encompassed evaluations at both the standard pH typically used in photo-Fenton reactions and the natural pH levels inherent to the respective aqueous environments. Additionally, EPO degradation products were analyzed after a 60-min reaction. Notably, in systems utilizing groundwater, the inclusion of additional iron was unnecessary, as the naturally occurring iron content in the groundwater facilitated the intended processes. Specifically, in Milli-Q water, solar photo-Fenton demonstrated an EPO degradation efficiency of 97%. Furthermore, the substitution of Milli-Q water with groundwater in Fenton-like processes did not significantly affect the efficacy of EPO degradation. These findings underscore the potential of solar photo-Fenton as an economically viable and environmentally sustainable strategy for EPO degradation.

Fe2+-NTA synergized UV254 photolytic defluorination of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS): Enhancing through intramolecular electron density perturbation via electron acquisition

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a persistent organic pollutant posing a risk in environmental persistence, bioaccumulation and biotoxicity. This study was to reach a comprehensive and deeper understanding of PFOS elimination in a UV254 photolytic treatment with the co-presence of Fe2+ and nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt (NTA). PFOS defluorination was noticeably enhanced in the UV/Fe2+-NTA treatment compared with UV/NTA, UV/Fe2+ and our previously studied UV/Fe3+ treatments. UV-vis, FTIR, and UPLC/MS-MS results indicated the formation of PFOS-Fe2+-NTA complex in PFOS, Fe2+ and NTA mixture. The transition energy gap of PFOS-Fe2+-NTA decreased below the excitation energy supplied by UV254 irradiation, corresponding with red shift appearing in UV-vis scanning spectrum. This favored intramolecular electron transfer from Fe2+-NTA to PFOS under UV254 irradiation to form electron-accepting PFOS. Molecular electrostatic potential and atom charge distribution analyses suggested electron density rearrangement and perturbation in the perfluorinated carbon chain of electron-accepting PFOS, leading to the decrease in bond dissociation energies. Intermediate products detection suggested the parallel defluorination pathways of PFOS desulfonation, middle carbon chain scission and direct C-F cleavage. NTA exhibited crucial functions in the UV/Fe2+-NTA treatment by holding Fe2+/Fe3+ in soluble form as a chelant and favoring water activation to generate hydrated electrons (eaq-) under UV irradiation as a photosensitizer. Fe2+ acting as the conduit for electron transfer and the bridge of PFOS anion and NTA was thought functioning best at 200 µM in this study. The degree of UV/Fe2+-NTA -synergized PFOS defluorination also depended on eaq- yield and UV254 photon flux. The structure dependence on the electron transfer process of PFOS and PFOA was explored incorporating molecular structure descriptors. Because of possessing greater potential to acquire electrons or less likeliness to donate its electrons than PFOA, PFOS exhibited faster defluorination kinetics in the published "reduction treatments" than "oxidation" ones. Whereas, PFOA defluorination kinetics were at similar level in both "reduction" and "oxidation" treatments.

Enhanced photodegradation of p-arsanilic acid by oxalate in goethite heterogeneous system under UVA irradiation

The widespread used organoarsenicals have drawn attention for decades due to their potential environment risks. In this study, a heterogeneous system of goethite/oxalate irradiated using UVA light (λ = 365 nm) was applied for the removal of ASA, a kind of organoarsenicals used in animal feeding operations as additives, from the aqueous phase through photodegradation. Results showed that the presence of 5 mM of oxalate significantly enhanced the photodegradation efficiency of ASA in the 0.1 g/L of goethite suspended system from 28 to ~100% within 180 min reaction at pH 5. Acid conditions favored the photoreaction rate, compared with neutral and basic conditions. This reaction process was also influenced by the initial concentration of oxalate and ASA. Furthermore, the mechanism study was conducted by quenching experiments and revealed the important roles of ·OH in the degradation of ASA in the goethite/oxalate/UVA system. By analyzing the reaction products, both inorganic arsenic (As(III) and As(V)) and ammonia were detected during the photodegradation of ASA. These findings help to gain a better understanding of the geochemical behavior of ASA in surface water and can also provide a potential treatment method for the organoarsenicals contaminated water.

Coordination of iron ions with phycocyanin for an improved Fenton activity at weakly acidic pH

Development of biomolecules coordinated iron ions-based Fenton agents is highly desirable for chemodynamic therapy in term of demanded biocompatibility and enhanced Fenton activity at tumor microenvironmental pH of 6.5. Herein, phycocyanin (PC), the only FDA-approved natural coloring agent, was selected to coordinate with iron ions. The spectroscopic investigations disclosed that PC displayed pH-dependent spectral and conformational responses upon addition of Fe ions. As a result, the effective formation of Fe-PC coordination merely occurred at pH 7 due to a less folded polypeptide matrix of PC. The formed Fe-PC coordination exerted an enhanced Fenton activity at pH 6.5 as attested by 3, 3', 5, 5'-tetramethlbenzidine assay and steady-state kinetic analysis. These findings not only provide fundamental insights of Fe-PC coordination but also highlight the potential biomedical significance of Fe-PC for severing as an effective Fenton agent in chemodynamic therapy.

Organic cocatalysts improved Fenton and Fenton-like processes for water pollution control: A review

In recent times, organic compounds have been extensively utilized to mitigate the limitations associated with Fe(Ⅲ) reduction and the narrow pH range in Fenton and Fenton-like processes, which have garnered considerable attention in relevant studies. This review presents the latest advancements in the comprehensive analysis and applications of organic agents as assistant/cocatalysts during Fenton/Fenton-like reactions for water pollution control. The primary focus includes the following: Firstly, the mechanism of organic co-catalytic reactions is introduced, encompassing both complexation and reduction aspects. Secondly, these organic compounds are classified into distinct categories based on their functional group structures and applications, namely polycarboxylates, aminopolycarboxylic acids, quinones, phenolic acids, humic substances, and sulfhydryl compounds, and their co-catalytic functions and mechanisms of each category are discussed in meticulous detail. Thirdly, a comprehensive comparison is conducted among various types of organic cocatalysts, considering their relative merits, cost implications, toxicity, and other pertinent factors. Finally, the review concludes by addressing the universal challenges and development prospects associated with organic co-catalytic systems. The overarching objective of this review is to provide insights into potential avenues for the future advancement of organic co-catalytic Fenton/Fenton-like reactions in the context of water purification.

Effect of interaction between dissolved organic matter and iron/manganese (hydrogen) oxides on the degradation of organic pollutants by in-situ advanced oxidation techniques

Iron and manganese (hydrogen) oxides (IMHOs) exhibit excellent redox capabilities for environmental pollutants and are commonly used in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) technologies for the degradation of organic pollutants. However, the coexisting dissolved organic matter (DOMs) in surface environments would influence the degradation behavior and fate of organic pollutants in IMHOs-based ISCO. This review has summarized the interactions and mechanisms between DOMs and IMHOs, as well as the properties of DOM-IMHOs complexes. Importantly, the promotion or inhibition impact of DOM was discussed from three perspectives. First, the presence of DOMs may hinder the accessibility of active sites on IMHOs, thus reducing their efficiency in degrading organic pollutants. The formation of compounds between DOMs and IMHOs alters their stability and activity in the degradation process. Second, the presence of DOMs may also affect the generation and transport of active species, thereby influencing the oxidative degradation process of organic pollutants. Third, specific components within DOMs also participate and affect the degradation pathways and rates. A comprehensive understanding of the interaction between DOMs and IMHOs helps to better understand and predict the degradation process of organic pollutants mediated by IMHOs in real environmental conditions and contributes to the further development and application of IMHO-mediated ISCO technology.

Solar photo-Fenton and persulphate-based processes for landfill leachate treatment: A critical review

Landfilling is the most usual solid waste management strategy for solid residues disposal. However, it entails several drawbacks such as the generation of landfill leachate that seriously threaten human life and the environment due to their toxicity and carcinogenic character. Among various technologies, solar photo-Fenton and sulphate-based processes have proven to be suitable for the treatment of these polluted streams. This review critically summarises the last three decades of studies in this field. It is found that the solar homogeneous photo-Fenton process should be preferably used as a pre- and post-treatment of biological technologies and as a standalone treatment for young, medium, and mature leachates, respectively. Studies on heterogeneous solar photo-Fenton process are lacking so that this technology may be scaled-up for industrial applications. Sulphate radicals are attractive for removing both COD and ammonia. However, no study has been reported on solar sulphate activation for landfill leachate treatment. This review discusses the main advances and challenges on treating landfill leachate through solar AOPs, it compares solar photo-Fenton and solar persulphate-based treatments, indicates the future research directions and contributes for a better understanding of these technologies towards sustainable treatment of landfill leachate in sunny and not-so-sunny regions.

Improvement of ferrioxalate assisted Fenton and photo-Fenton processes for paracetamol degradation by hydrogen peroxide dosage

This work aimed to investigate the impact of hydrogen peroxide (HP) punctual dosage on paracetamol (PCT) degradation, through Fenton and photo-Fenton processes under near-neutral pH conditions, using ferrioxalate and artificial sunlight. The assays were performed using a D-optimal experimental design, to statistically evaluate the influence of radiation (ON or OFF), HP concentration (94.5-756 mg L-1), and HP dosage (YES or NO), on PCT conversion. The optimal conditions determined from the study were: HP = 378 mg L-1, DOS = YES, and RAD = ON, achieving a predicted PCT conversion of 99.68% in 180 min. This result obtained from the model was very close to the experimental one (98.80%). It was verified that HP dosage positively influenced the iron catalytic cycle since higher Fe2+ concentrations were reached at shorter reaction times, accelerating not only PCT conversion but also its by-products hydroquinone and 1,4-benzoquinone, leading to better performances of Fenton and photo-Fenton reactions. Under optimal conditions and employing real water matrices (an artificial matrix with inorganic anions, a real groundwater sample, and a synthetic industrial wastewater), HP dosage demonstrated the ability to mitigate the negative effects caused by the content of different ions and other organic compounds and significantly improve HP consumption in challenging wastewater conditions.

Winery and olive mill wastewaters treatment using nitrilotriacetic acid/UV-C/Fenton process: Batch and semi-continuous mode

In this work, both red and white winery wastewaters (WW) and olive mill wastewater (OMW) were submitted to a treatment by Fenton-based processes (FBPs). The main aim was to evaluate the most efficient and economic process. Initial tests, resorting to a batch reactor, demonstrated that UV-C/Fenton (λ = 254 nm) was the most effective process. Operational conditions such as pH, H2O2 and Fe2+ concentrations revealed to have a superior influence within dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal as well as regarding the reactor's energy consumption. As a means to prevent iron precipitation, the addition of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) was tested. With experimental conditions pH = 3.0, [H2O2] = 194 mM, [Fe2+] = 1.0 mM, [NTA] = 1.0 mM, radiation UV-C (254 nm), time = 240 min, the kinetic rate related with DOC removal showed a kredWW = 0.0128 min-1 > kOMW = 0.0124 min-1 > kwhiteWW = 0.0104 min-1 and both the WW and OMW achieved the Portuguese legal limit values for wastewater discharge. Furthermore, comparative experiments were performed in a semi-continuous reactor, being that the results put in evidence that the concentration of H2O2 added and the flow rate of reagents' addition (F) had a significant effect on the efficiency of the reactor. Under an optimum experimental procedure pH = 3.0, [H2O2] = 97 mM, [Fe2+] = 1.0 mM, [NTA] = 1.0 mM, radiation UV-C (254 nm), F = 1 mL min-1, time = 240 min, there were observed higher DOC removal kinetic rates (kOMW = 15.20 × 10-3 min-1 > kredWW = 11.64 × 10-3 min-1 > kwhiteWW = 11.57 × 10-3 min-1) and a cost ranging between 0.0402 and 0.0419 €/g.DOC. These results showed that semi-continuous reactors have the potential to be applied to large scale treatments, with low reagents consumption and reduced energy requirements.

Antibacterial Effect of Melanoidins Derived From Xylose and Phenylalanine Against Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens

Melanoidins produced from the combination of D-xylose and L-phenylalanine have been reported to exhibit strong antibacterial effects. This study investigated the influence of environmental factors, such as temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45°C), pH (5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, and 8.0), and water activity (aw: 0.99, 0.96, and 0.93), on the antibacterial effect of the melanoidins produced from the combination of D-xylose with L-phenylalanine against Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens in culture media. Furthermore, freeze-dried powdered melanoidin was used to determine the minimum concentration for growth inhibition, to compare the antibacterial effect of the melanoidin with conventional food preservatives. The liquid melanoidins significantly inhibited the growth of B. cereus (up to 4 log CFU/mL at the maximum) and C. perfringens (up to 6.5 log CFU/mL at the maximum) regardless of the incubation temperatures. However, the remarkable difference between the presence and absence of the melanoidins was demonstrated in the range of 20-35°C as 4 log-cycle lower in B. cereus and 2 log-cycle lower in C. perfringens than those without the melanoidins. The antibacterial effect of the melanoidin on B. cereus was not influenced by pH from 5.5 to 7.0, which exhibited 2-3 log-cycle lower viable counts than those without the melanoidin. Only one log-cycle difference between with and without the melanoidin was shown in C. perfringens growth under the pH range of 5.5-7.0. Although there was no significant difference in the growth of B. cereus between three aw conditions, the melanoidin exhibited a significant antibacterial effect at aw 0.99 demonstrating 4 log-cycle lower viable numbers than those without the melanoidin. Minimum inhibitory concentration of the melanoidin powder for B. cereus and C. perfringens was 7 mg/mL and 15 mg/mL, respectively, regardless of the kind of foods. Furthermore, the melanoidin exhibited comparable antibacterial effect on B. cereus and C. perfringens to potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate under the same concentration as the minimum inhibitory concentration of the melanoidin, demonstrating 2 log-cycle reduction during 3 days of incubation period at 25°C. The results presented here suggest that the xylose- and phenylalanine-based melanoidin demonstrates the possibility to be an alternative food preservative.

Solar photo-Fenton optimization at neutral pH for microcontaminant removal at pilot plant scale

The increasing occurrence of micropollutants in natural water bodies has medium to long-term effects on both aquatic life and human health. The aim of this study is to optimize the degradation of two pharmaceutical pollutants of emerging concern: amoxicillin and acetaminophen in aqueous solution at laboratory and pilot scale, by solar photo-Fenton process carried out at neutral pH using ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS) as a complexing agent to maintain iron in solution. The initial concentration of each compound was set at 1 mg/L dissolved in a simulated effluent from a municipal wastewater treatment plant (MWTP). A factorial experimental design and its surface response analysis were used to optimize the operating parameters to achieve the highest initial degradation rate of each target. The evolution of the degradation process was measured by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC/UV), obtaining elimination rates above 90% for both contaminants. Statistical study showed the optimum concentrations of Fe(III) at 3 mg/L at an Fe-EDDS ratio of 1:2 and 2.75 mg/L H2O2 for the almost complete removal of the target compounds by solar photo-Fenton process. Validation of the experimental design was successfully carried out with actual MWTP effluent spiked with 100 μg/L of amoxicillin and acetaminophen, each at pilot plant scale.

An extra-chelator-free fenton process assisted by electrocatalytic-induced in-situ pollutant carboxylation for target refractory organic efficient treatment in chemical-industrial wastewater

For traditional Fenton processes, the quenching behavior of radical contenders (e.g., most aliphatic hydrocarbons) on hydroxyl radicals (·OH) usually hinders the removal of target refractory pollutants (aromatic/heterocyclic hydrocarbons) in chemical industrial wastewater, leading to excess energy consumption. Herein, we proposed an electrocatalytic-assisted chelation-Fenton (EACF) process, with no extra-chelator addition, to significantly enhance target refractory pollutant (pyrazole as a representative) removal under high ·OH contender (glyoxal) levels. Experiments and theoretical calculations proved that superoxide radical (·O₂^-) and anodic direct electron transfer (DET) effectively converted the strong ·OH-quenching substance (glyoxal) to a weak radical competitor (oxalate) during the electrocatalytic oxidation process, promoting Fe²⁺ chelation and therefore increasing radical utilization for pyrazole degradation (reached maximum of ∼43-fold value upon traditional Fenton), which appeared more obviously in neutral/alkaline Fenton conditions. For actual pharmaceutical tailwater treatment, the EACF achieved 2-folds higher oriented-oxidation capability and ∼78% lower operation cost per pyrazole removal than the traditional Fenton process, demonstrating promising potential for future practical applications.

Enhancement of EDDS-photo-Fenton process with plant-based coagulants for winery wastewater management

To achieve an efficient remediation of a winery wastewater (WW), it was studied a physical-chemical process (coagulation-flocculation-decantation - CFD) involving plant-based coagulants (PBC) with advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), aiming to achieve the Portuguese legal limits. Initially, one invasive (Acacia dealbata) and three native species (Quercus ilex, Platanus x acerifólia and Tanacetum vulgare) were collected and used as plant-based coagulants (PBCs). The combination of Platanus acerifólia (P.a.) seeds with polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) achieved high turbidity (97.3%) and chemical oxygen demand (COD = 48.2%) removals, from raw WW, with [PBC] = 0.1 g/L, [PVPP] = 5 mg/L, pH = 3.0, fast mix = 150 rpm/3 min, slow mix = 20 rpm/20 min, sedimentation time = 12 h. Different AOPs were studied to treat raw WW, with photo-Fenton process revealing the highest COD efficiency (88.0%). To enhance the capabilities of photo-Fenton, ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid trisodium salt (EDDS) was assessed as a chelation agent, reducing iron precipitation. The pre-treatment of WW by PBCs followed by EDDS/photo-Fenton (pH = 6.0, [H₂O₂] = 175 mM, [Fe²⁺] = 5 mM, [EDDS] = 1 mM, T = 298 K, time = 240 min) increased the COD removal, whatever the radiation source applied (UV-C, UV-A and solar). Among the different processes, the combined P. a. seeds and UV-C/EDDS/Fenton allowed increase the WW biodegradability from 0.26 to 0.46, and achieved a COD removal of 95.7%, reaching the Portuguese legal limits. As final remark, the synergy of PBCs and EDDS/photo-Fenton is considered effective and sustainable process for raw WW remediation and water reuse.

Study on removing marine multiple pollutants in raw exhaust gas with a novel composited method combined with pre-agglomeration and wet scrubbing technology

Most of the existing oxidation denitrification methods need longer residence time to obtain higher NOx removal efficiency. In this study, urea peroxide (CO(NH₂)₂·H₂O₂) was first used for removing SO₂ and NOx on diesel engine bench. The addition of ferrous sulfate can enhance the oxidant capacity of the solution. The better removal efficiency and lower nitrate content in liquid can be achieved in short exhaust gas residence time. The raw gas flow and residence time contained the actual application situation in ships and have high reference value. The removal efficiency decreased with the increase of gas flow, and the reaction temperature, urea peroxide concentration, liquid-gas ratio were the main factors. The optimal Fe²⁺ concentration of 50 mmol/L and pH value of 4 were determined. The urea peroxide concentration, reaction temperature, and liquid-gas ratio were 9%, 70 ℃, and 10 L/m³ respectively. The maximum gas treatment capacity was about 100 L/min, and residence time was close to 10 s for the scrubber. The pre-agglomerating method were used to improve the particle capturing efficiency combined with spray technology. The composited method can realize the synchronous and efficient removal of multiple pollutants in a single scrubber. The possibility of application on ship was further increased.

Organic ligands activate the dark formation of hydroxyl radicals (HO•) in surface soil/sediment: Yields, mechanisms, and applications

Soil is an important sink for various pollutants. Recent findings suggest that soil and sediment would spontaneously form HO^• through Fenton or Fenton-like reactions under natural conditions. In this study, the effects and mechanisms of organic ligands (OLs) on the occurrence of HO^• in surface soil/sediment were experimentally and computationally examined. Results confirmed that HO^• generation was ND-12.92 nmol/g in surface soil/sediment, and the addition of EDTA-2Na would significantly enhance the yields of HO^• by 1.4-352 times. Moisture was the decisive factor of soil HO^• generation. The release of Fe(II) from solid into the aqueous phase was essential for the stimulation of HO^• in EDTA-2Na suspensions. Furthermore, complexation reactions between Fe(II) and OLs would enhance single electron transfer (SET) reactions and the formation of O₂^•-. Interestingly, for specific OLs, their stimulations on SET and formation of O₂^•- would depress HO^• generation. Provoking HO^• generation by OLs could be efficiently used to degrade sulfamethoxazole in rice field sediment. The study provided new knowledge on how commonly synthetic OLs affect the HO^• generation in surface soil/sediment, and it additionally shed light on the engineered stimulation of in-situ Fenton reactions in natural soil/sediment.

Photo-Fenton oxidation of cylindrospermopsin at neutral pH with LEDs

Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) is a potent cyanobacterial toxin found in freshwaters worldwide. In this work, the feasibility of the photo-Fenton process under neutral pH using light emitting diodes as irradiation source for the removal of this hazardous cyanotoxin from freshwater was investigated. The impact of the kind of iron chelating agent (ethylenediamine-N, N'-disuccinic acid vs. ethylenedinitrilotetraacetic acid) as well as the effect of the main operating conditions viz. H₂O₂ dose, Fe(III) load, initial CYN concentration, and Fe(III):EDDS molar ratio on the performance of the process was systematically evaluated. EDDS was selected as the most appropriate iron chelating agent considering the kinetics of the process and the environmental impact (Vibrio fischeri and Artemia salina). Under optimized conditions ([H₂O₂] = 30 mg L^-1; [Fe(III)] = 5 mg L^-1; Fe(III):ligand = 1:0.5 (molar ratio)), complete removal of CYN was achieved in 15-min reaction time. Furthermore, the catalytic system showed to be effective in real water matrices (river and reservoir waters) spiked with CYN. Although the presence of inorganic ions (mainly HCO₃^-/CO₃^2-) and dissolved organic carbon decreased the oxidation rate of CYN due to scavenging reactions and iron coordination, respectively, complete elimination of the cyanotoxin was achieved in all cases. The fate of EDDS along the process was also evaluated to demonstrate that the catalytic system investigated, apart from its effectiveness, warrants the complete absence of residues after reaction. Therefore, the proposed system constitutes a promising method for cyanotoxin treatment either as a drinking water treatment step in conventional plants or as a potential remediation strategy in the natural environment.

Sulfate radicals-based advanced oxidation processes for the degradation of pharmaceuticals and personal care products: A review on relevant activation mechanisms, performance, and perspectives

Owing to the rapid development of modern industry, a greater number of organic pollutants are discharged into the water matrices. In recent decades, research efforts have focused on developing more effective technologies for the remediation of water containing pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). Recently, sulfate radicals-based advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs) have been extensively used due to their high oxidizing potential, and effectiveness compared with other AOPs in PPCPs remediation. The present review provides a comprehensive assessment of the different methods such as heat, ultraviolet (UV) light, photo-generated electrons, ultrasound (US), electrochemical, carbon nanomaterials, homogeneous, and heterogeneous catalysts for activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and peroxydisulfate (PDS). In addition, possible activation mechanisms from the point of radical and non-radical pathways are discussed. Then, biodegradability enhancement and toxicity reduction are highlighted. Comparison with other AOPs and treatment of PPCPs by the integrated process are evaluated as well. Lastly, conclusions and future perspectives on this research topic are elaborated.

Recent Advances in the Development of Novel Iron–Copper Bimetallic Photo Fenton Catalysts

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been postulated as viable, innovative, and efficient technologies for the removal of pollutants from water bodies. Among AOPs, photo-Fenton processes have been shown to be effective for the degradation of various types of organic compounds in industrial wastewater. Monometallic iron catalysts are limited in practical applications due to their low catalytic activity, poor stability, and recyclability. On the other hand, the development of catalysts based on copper oxides has become a current research topic due to their advantages such as strong light absorption, high mobility of charge carriers, low environmental toxicity, long-term stability, and low production cost. For these reasons, great efforts have been made to improve the practical applications of heterogeneous catalysts, and the bimetallic iron–copper materials have become a focus of research. In this context, this review focuses on the compilation of the most relevant studies on the recent progress in the application of bimetallic iron–copper materials in heterogeneous photo–Fenton-like reactions for the degradation of pollutants in wastewater. Special attention is paid to the removal efficiencies obtained and the reaction mechanisms involved in the photo–Fenton treatments with the different catalysts.

Phenol degradation in iron-based advanced oxidation processes through ferric reduction assisted by molybdenum disulfide

In the iron-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), direct use of Fe^III can be more convenient than Fe^II but the reduction of Fe^III to Fe^II is a rate-limiting step. Introducing co-catalysts with abundant reducing sites to Fe-based AOPs can be an efficient way to accelerate the Fe redox process. Herein, molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) was used to enhance the catalytic performance of Fe³⁺/persulfate (PS) for phenol removal. In the Fe³⁺/MoS₂/PS system, 99.6 ± 0.1% of phenol was removed in 60 min, comparable to that of the Fe²⁺/PS/MoS₂ system (99.1 ± 0.3%). With the help of MoS₂, 99.3 ± 4.2% of Fe³⁺ was transformed to Fe²⁺ in 10 min, and the Fe²⁺/Fe ratio was able to be maintained at 70.0 ± 1.4% after 60 min. The rapid and complete reduction of Fe³⁺ with MoS₂ made it possible to replace Fe²⁺ by Fe³⁺, which is easier to store, transport, and use. The decrease in XPS peak area percentage of Mo(IV) and the lower valent S after reaction revealed that MoS₂ acted as an electron provider in the Fe redox cycle. Quenching experiment results indicated that the phenol removal was highly depended on the surface-bound radicals, including both SO₄^•- and ^•OH. Those results have demonstrated that ferric salts can be directly used in the Fe-based AOPs and the redox cycle could be sustained with the assistance of MoS₂.

Challenges on solar oxidation as post-treatment of municipal wastewater from UASB systems: Treatment efficiency, disinfection and toxicity

The application of solar photo-Fenton as post-treatment of municipal secondary effluents (MSE) in developing tropical countries is the main topic of this review. Alternative technologies such as stabilization ponds and upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) are vastly applied in these countries. However, data related to the application of solar photo-Fenton to improve the quality of effluents from UASB systems are scarce. This review gathered main achievements and limitations associated to the application of solar photo-Fenton at neutral pH and at pilot scale to analyze possible challenges associated to its application as post-treatment of MSE generated by alternative treatments. To this end, the literature review considered studies published in the last decade focusing on CECs removal, toxicity reduction and disinfection via solar photo-Fenton. Physicochemical characteristics of effluents originated after UASB systems alone and followed by a biological post-treatment show significant difference when compared with effluents from conventional activated sludge (CAS) systems. Results obtained for solar photo-Fenton as post-treatment of MSE in developed countries indicate that remaining organic matter and alkalinity present in UASB effluents may pose challenges to the performance of solar advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). This drawback could result in a more toxic effluent. The use of chelating agents such as Fe³⁺-EDDS to perform solar photo-Fenton at neutral pH was compared to the application of intermittent additions of Fe²⁺ and both of these strategies were reported as effective to remove CECs from MSE. The latter strategy may be of greater interest in developing countries due to costs associated to complexing agents. In addition, more studies are needed to confirm the efficiency of solar photo-Fenton on the disinfection of effluent from UASB systems to verify reuse possibilities. Finally, future research urges to evaluate the efficiency of solar photo-Fenton at natural pH for the treatment of effluents from UASB systems.

Water disinfection by the UVA/electro-Fenton process under near neutral conditions: Performance and mechanisms

An efficient and thorough water disinfection is critical for human health. In this study, UVA-LEDs, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) and a boron-doped diamond anode were respectively used as the UVA source, the iron chelator and the anode for the UVA/electro-Fenton (E-Fenton) reaction to treat wastewater. The disinfection performance of the UVA/E-Fenton had been investigated. The mechanisms of the E. coli inactivation had been clarified. The results showed that complete disinfection (about 5.6-log removal) could be achieved within 50 min at a certain condition due to the synergistic effort of the UVA, anodic oxidation and the electro-Fenton. The quenching experiments and the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) detection indicated that •OH, •O₂^- and ¹O₂ play important roles for inactivating E. coli. The results of SEM images and genomic DNA electrophoresis suggested that both the cell structure and the DNA had been thoroughly destroyed during the UVA/E-Fenton process. Increasing the UVA irradiation, oxygen bubbling could improve the disinfection rate, while it also would increase the energy consumption. The appropriate Fe and NTA ratio was 1:2 to realize an efficient Fenton reaction under near neutral condition. Complete disinfection was also achieved within 50 min when it used for treating real wastewater. Thus, the UVA/E-Fenton process is a satisfied way for water disinfection.

Mild Fenton Processes for the Removal of Preservatives: Interfering Effect of Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) on Paraben Degradation

The degradation of various preservatives used in the cosmetics industry, including five parabens and their most employed substitute, methylisothiazolinone (MIT), was investigated. A mild photo-Fenton process was applied using low iron concentrations (5 mg/L) at a pH of five, instead of the traditional acidic value of three. At these conditions, the paraben degradation was very low after one hour of reaction and it was necessary to present humic-like substances (HLS) acting as iron chelators to improve the process. Values obtained when MIT was treated were very low, also in the presence of HLS, indicating that their complexing effect was not acting properly. When MIT was added to the mixture of parabens an inhibitory effect was found in the presence of HLS. A possible complex between iron and MIT was suggested and the studies of hydrogen peroxide consumption and Job’s plot technique confirmed this hypothesis. Evidence of the formation of this inactive complex, so far never reported, will be essential in future work when dealing with this compound using Fenton processes. Furthermore, this fact points out the importance of using mixtures of model contaminants instead of a single one or a group of the same family, since their ability to form active or inactive complexes with iron can strongly change the behavior of the whole system.

Effective removal of the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus from a Chlorella vulgaris microalgal culture by homogeneous solar photo-Fenton at neutral pH

In this study, a citrate-modified photo-Fenton process was successfully applied to decontaminate a Chlorella vulgaris microalgae culture spiked with the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus (5 individuals mL^-1). The applied treatment (1 mg L^-1 Fe²⁺, 20 mg L^-1 H₂O₂, 17.5 mg L^-1 citric acid) had only moderate effects on viability and regrowth of the microalgae since, after a short post-treatment delay of a few days, they reached final cell densities similar to that obtained for microalgae cultures that were not spiked. The decontamination was effective as no regrowth of rotifers was observed in the microalgae cultures after treatment. The efficacy of the citrate-modified photo-Fenton treatment was also studied with a higher starting concentration of 20 rotifers mL^-1 and was compared with a solar light/H₂O₂ treatment. Results show that both treatments had similar efficacies on the rotifer elimination, but that the citrate-modified photo-Fenton treatment had a lower negative impact on the regrowth of microalgae than the solar light/H₂O₂ treatment. However, when microalgae cultures were spiked with 20 rotifers mL^-1, rotifers were only partially inactivated and post-treatment regrowth occurred, which highlights the importance to apply the photo-Fenton process at an early stage of a contamination to achieve full rotifer elimination. In any case, a contamination with 5 rotifers mL^-1 is already a significant threat as numbers above 1000 rotifers mL^-1 were reached after 14 days and caused the microalgae culture to fail. Overall, our treatment suggests that the citrate-modified solar photo-Fenton process is an environmentally friendly solution to support the maintenance of contaminant-free microalgal cultures.

Elimination of bisphenol A with visible light-enhanced peroxydisulfate activation process mediated by Fe3+-nitrilotriacetic acid complex

In recent years, visible light assisted advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are appealing in the elimination of pollutants. Herein, an innovative and eco-friendly visible light enhanced Fe³⁺-nitrilotriacetic acid system for the activation of peroxydisulfate (Vis/Fe³⁺-NTA/PDS) was proposed for the removal of bisphenol A (BPA). Fe³⁺-NTA could be dissociated through ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) to realize the generation of Fe²⁺ for the continuous activation of PDS to remove BPA. The use of 0.10 mM Fe³⁺, 0.10 mM NTA and 1.00 mM PDS led to 97.5% decay of 0.05 mM BPA and 66.3% of TOC removal in 30 min with the illumination of visible light at initial pH 3.0. The sulfate and hydroxyl radicals were proved to be the dominant species leading to BPA removal by means of radical scavenging experiments, radical probes and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique. The effects of various operating parameters, natural water constituents as well as different water matrices on BPA abatement were explored. The intermediate products of BPA degradation were identified and a possible transformation pathway was proposed. Briefly, this research provides an attractive strategy for the remediation of refractory wastewater using NTA assisted with visible light in the homogeneous Fe³⁺/PDS system.

Valorisation of residual iron dust as Fenton catalyst for pulp and paper wastewater treatment

In this work, the performance of residual iron dust (RID) from metallurgic industry was assessed as Fenton catalyst for the treatment of real pulp bleaching wastewater. The focus was on the removal of recalcitrant pollutants AOX (adsorbable organic halides), by a novel, cleaner, and cost-effective circular solution based on a waste-derived catalyst. The behaviour of RID as iron source was firstly assessed by performing leaching tests at different RID:wastewater w/v ratios and contact time. Afterwards, RID-catalysed homogeneous and heterogeneous Fenton processes were conducted to maximise AOX removal from the pulp bleaching wastewater. Reusability of RID was assessed by a simple collect-and-reuse methodology, without any modification. Similar AOX removal under less consumption of chemicals was achieved with the novel heterogeneous Fenton process. Reaction in the bulk solution was the main pathway of AOX removal, given that the low surface area and porosity of the material did not allow for a high contribution of surface reaction to the overall performance. Moreover, AOX removal was similar over two consecutive treatment cycles, with Fenton process being responsible for 56.7-62.1% removal of AOX from the wastewater, and the leaching step adding 11.4-13.2%. At the end of treatment, COD either decreased (1^st cycle) or remained unchanged (2^nd and 3^rd cycle). The operating cost of the optimised heterogeneous Fenton was 3-11% lower than under conventional Fenton process. This work presented a novel, circular solution based on a low-cost waste-derived catalyst, advancing the knowledge needed to foster industrial application of such technologies to increase industrial environmental performance and efficiency.

Effect of Iron Complex Source on MWWTP Effluent Treatment by Solar Photo-Fenton: Micropollutant Degradation, Toxicity Removal and Operating Costs

Benzophenone-3, fipronil and propylparaben are micropollutants that are potential threats to ecosystems and have been detected in aquatic environments. However, studies involving the investigation of new technologies aiming at their elimination from these matrices, such as advanced oxidation processes, remain scarce. In this study, different iron complexes (FeCit, FeEDTA, FeEDDS and FeNTA) were evaluated for the degradation of a mixture of these micropollutants (100 µg L−1 each) spiked in municipal wastewater treatment plant (MWWTP) effluent at pH 6.9 by solar photo-Fenton. Operational parameters (iron and H2O2 concentration and Fe/L molar ratio) were optimized for each complex. Degradation efficiencies improved significantly by increasing the concentration of iron complexes (1:1 Fe/L) from 12.5 to 100 µmol L−1 for FeEDDS, FeEDTA and FeNTA. The maximum degradation reached with FeCit for all iron concentrations was limited to 30%. Different Fe/L molar ratios were required to maximize the degradation efficiency for each ligand: 1:1 for FeNTA and FeEDTA, 1:3 for FeEDDS and 1:5 for FeCit. Considering the best Fe/L molar ratios, higher degradation rates were reached using 5.9 mmol L−1 H2O2 for FeNTA and FeEDTA compared to 1.5 and 2.9 mmol L−1 H2O2 for FeEDDS and FeCit, respectively. Acute toxicity to Canton S. strain D. melanogaster flies reduced significantly after treatment for all iron complexes, indicating the formation of low-toxicity by-products. FeNTA was considered the best iron complex source in terms of the kinetic constant (0.10 > 0.063 > 0.051 > 0.036 min−1 for FeCit, FeNTA, FeEDTA and FeEDDS, respectively), organic carbon input and cost-benefit (USD 327 m−3 > USD 20 m−3 > USD 16 m−3 > USD 13 m−3 for FeEDDS, FeCit, FeEDTA and FeNTA, respectively) when compared to the other tested complexes.

A review toward contaminants of emerging concern in Brazil: Occurrence, impact and their degradation by advanced oxidation process in aquatic matrices

This work presents data regarding the occurrence and treatment of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) in Brazil in the past decade. The literature review (2011-2021) revealed the detection of 87 pharmaceutical drugs and personal care products, 58 pesticides, 8 hormones, 2 illicit drugs, caffeine and bisphenol A in distinct matrices (i.e.: wastewater, groundwater, sea water, rainwater, surface water, drinking water and hospital effluent). Concentrations of CECs varied from ng-μg L^-1 depending on the location, compound and matrix. The inefficiency of conventional wastewater treatment methods on the removal of CECs and lack of basic sanitation in some regions in the country aggravates contamination of Brazilian aquatic environments and poses potential environmental and health risks. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are pointed out as viable and efficient alternatives to degrade CECs and prevent environmental contamination. A total of 375 studies involving the use of AOPs in Brazilian aqueous matrices were published in the last decade. Fenton and photo-Fenton processes, photo-peroxidation, ozonation, electrochemical advanced oxidation and heterogeneous photocatalysis are some of the AOPs applied by Brazilian research groups. Although many works discuss the importance of applying these technologies for CECs removal in real treatment plants, most of these studies assess the treatment of distilled water or simulated effluent. Therefore, the conduction of studies applying AOPs in real matrices are critical to drive the implementation of these processes coupled to conventional water and wastewater treatment in real plants in order to prevent the contamination of environmental matrices by CECs in Brazil.

Porous Photo-Fenton Catalysts Rapidly Triggered by Levodopa-Based Mussel-Inspired Coatings for Enhanced Dye Degradation and Sterilization

The advanced oxidation process of the photo-Fenton reaction can produce hydroxyl radicals with extremely strong oxidizing properties for the efficient and green degradation of various chemical and microbial pollutants. Herein, we report an approach to fabricating heterogeneous Fenton catalysts of β-FeOOH nanorods on porous substrates triggered by mussel-inspired coatings of levodopa (3,4-dihydroxy-phenyl-l-alanine, l-DOPA) and polyethylenimine (PEI) for efficient photocatalytic dyes' degradation and sterilization. The l-DOPA-based coatings not only promote the formation and immobilization of β-FeOOH nanorods on the porous substrates by strong coordination between catechol/carboxyl groups and Fe³⁺ but also improve the energy band structure of the Fenton catalysts through a valence band blue shift and band gap narrowing. The photo-Fenton catalysts prepared by the l-DOPA-based coatings exhibit high electron transport efficiency and improved utilization of sunlight. Only 2 h of mineralization is needed to fabricate these catalysts with excellent photocatalytic efficiency, in which the degradation efficiency of methylene blue can reach 99% within 30 min, whereas the sterilization efficiency of E. coli/S. aureus can reach 93%/94% within 20 min of the photo-Fenton reaction. Additionally, the prepared catalysts reveal a high photodegradation performance for various dyes including methylene blue, methyl blue, methyl orange, direct yellow, and rhodamine B. Furthermore, the catalysts retain high dye degradation efficiencies of above 90% after five photodegradation cycles, indicating cycling performance and good stability.

Vis LED Photo-Fenton Degradation of 124-Trichlorobenzene at a Neutral pH Using Ferrioxalate as Catalyst

Chlorinated organic compounds (COCs) are among the more toxic organic compounds frequently found in soil and groundwater. Among these, toxic and low-degradable chlorobenzenes are commonly found in the environment. In this work, an innovative process using hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant, ferrioxalate as the catalyst and a visible light-emitting diode lamp (Vis LED) were applied to successfully oxidize 124-trichlorobenzene (124-TCB) in a saturated aqueous solution of 124-TCB (28 mg L^-1) at a neutral pH. The influence of a hydrogen peroxide (HP) concentration (61.5-612 mg L^-1), Fe³⁺ (Fe) dosage (3-10 mg L^-1), and irradiation level (Rad) (I = 0.12 W cm^-2 and I = 0.18 W cm^-2) on 124-TCB conversion and dechlorination was studied. A D-Optimal experimental design combined with response surface methodology (RSM) was implemented to maximize the quality of the information obtained. The ANOVA test was used to assess the significance of the model and its coefficients. The maximum pollutant conversion at 180 min (98.50%) was obtained with Fe = 7 mg L^-1, HP = 305 mg L^-1, and I = 0.12 W cm^-2. The effect of two inorganic anions usually presents in real groundwater (bicarbonate and chloride, 600 mg L^-1 each) was investigated under those optimized operating conditions. A slight reduction in the 124-TCB conversion after 180 min of reaction was noticed in the presence of bicarbonate (8.31%) and chloride (7.85%). Toxicity was studied with Microtox® (Azur Environmental, Carlsbad, CA, USA) bioassay, and a remarkable toxicity decrease was found in the treated samples, with the inhibition proportional to the remaining 124-TCB concentration. That means that nontoxic byproducts are produced in agreement with the high dechlorination degrees noticed.

Textile Dye Removal by Acacia dealbata Link. Pollen Adsorption Combined with UV-A/NTA/Fenton Process

The decolourization of an aqueous solution of the textile dye Acid Red 88 (AR88) and the control of the invasive plant species Acacia dealbata Link. (ADL) were addressed in this work. The aims of the study were (1) characterization of the ADL pollen, (2) application of the pollen powder in adsorption processes, (3) selection of the best operational conditions for nitriloacetic acid (NTA)-UV-A-Fenton process and (4) assess the efficiency of the combined treatment adsorption and NTA-UV-A-Fenton in AR88 decolourization. In a first step, ADL pollen was used as a AR88 bioadsorbent. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis were performed and revealed the presence of proteins, fatty acids, carbohydrates and lignin in the pollen. Afterwards, trough scanning electron microscopy (SEM), it was possible to verify that ADL pollen has several empty spaces that can be used for dye adsorption. Biosorption results showed higher adsorption of AR88 with application of pH 3.0 and [pollen] = 3.0 g/L with 18.8 mg/g of dye adsorbed. The best fitting was observed with Langmuir, SIPS and Jovanovic isotherms (0.993, 0.996 and 0.994, respectively). To complement the biosorption, a UV-A-Fenton process was applied, and results showed a higher AR88 removal with (NTA) addition. Higher irradiance power favored the oxidation process with high Ф photodegradation value and low Electric Energy per Order ($$E_{\text{EO}}$$ E EO ) and Specific Applied Energy ($$E_{\text{SAE}}$$ E SAE ). The combination of biosorption with NTA-UV-A-Fenton was the most efficient system with an AR88 decolourization of 98.5% and a total organic carbon (TOC) removal of 83.5%.

Graphical Abstract

Mn(II) Acceleration of the Picolinic Acid-Assisted Fenton Reaction: New Insight into the Role of Manganese in Homogeneous Fenton AOPs

The homogeneous Fe-catalyzed Fenton reaction remains an attractive advanced oxidation process for wastewater treatment, but sustaining the Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox cycle at a convenient pH without the costly input of energy or reductants remains a challenge. Mn(II) is known to accelerate the Fenton reaction, yet the mechanism has never been confidently established. We report a systematic kinetic and spectroscopic investigation into Mn(II) acceleration of atrazine or 2,4,6-trichlorophenol degradation by the picolinic acid (PICA)-assisted Fenton reaction at pH 4.5-6.0. Mn(II) accelerates Fe(III) reduction, superoxide radical (HO₂^•/O₂^•-) formation, and hydroxyl radical (HO^•) formation. A Mn(II/III)-H₂O₂ redox cycle as an independent source of reactive oxygen species, as proposed in the literature, is shown to be insignificant. Rather, Mn(II) assists by participating directly and catalytically in the Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox cycle. Initially, Mn(II) (as Mn^II(PICA)⁺) complexes with a ferric hydroperoxo species, PICA-Fe^III-OOH. The resulting binuclear complex undergoes intramolecular electron transfer to give Fe(II), which later generates HO^• from H₂O₂, plus MnO₂⁺, which later decomposes to HO₂^•/O₂^•- (an Fe(III) reductant) and Mn(II), completing the catalytic cycle. This scheme may apply to other Fenton-type systems that go through an Fe^III-OOH intermediate. The findings here will inform the design of practical and sustainable Fenton-based AOPs employing Mn(II) in combination with chelating agents.

Review on effect of different type of dyes on advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for textile color removal

The textile industry is one of the most valuable industries, especially in developing countries, because it employs a large portion of the workforce. However, the development of the textile industry has led to increasing concern about environmental issues. Wastewater from the textile industry has a high COD and an undesirable color. Color is one of the problems with the wastewater due to its toxicity and low biodegradability. Color in textile wastewater mainly originates from the dyestuff used during the dyeing or printing process. Amongst all of available technology for color removal, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are considered one of the best and the most potential technology. However, the understanding of AOPs reaction mechanism to degrade dyestuff is still limited. In general, dyes degradation mechanism will vary and mainly depend on the chemical structure of the dyes itself. Some reaction pathway that seems less favorable thermodynamically can still happen during the process. Understanding the mechanism will be beneficial for future dyes improvement, especially on developing the moiety of the aromatic compound in order to produce easily degraded dyes while maintaining the fastness quality.

Austenitic Stainless Steel as a Catalyst Material for Photo-Fenton Degradation of Organic Dyes

In this paper, a typical austenitic stainless steel was used as a catalyst in the visible photo-Fenton degradation process of two model dyes, methylene blue and methylorange, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and potassium persulfate as free radical-generating species. The concentration intervals for both peroxide and persulfate were in the range of 333–1667 μg/L. Very high photodecoloration efficiencies have been achieved using peroxide (>93%), while moderate ones have been achieved using persulfate (>75%) at a pH value of 6.5. For methylene blue, the maximum mineralization yield of 74.5% was achieved using 1665 μg/L of hydrogen peroxide, while methylorange was better mineralized using 999 μg/L of persulfate. The photodegradation of the dye occurred in two distinct steps, which were successfully modeled by the Langmuir–Hinshelwood pseudo-first-order kinetic model. Reaction rate constants k between 0.1 and 4.05 h−1 were observed, comparable to those presented in the reference literature at lower pH values and higher concentrations of total iron from the aqueous media.

Role of sunlight and oxygen on the performance of photo-Fenton process at near neutral pH using organic fertilizers as iron chelates

Nowadays, reaction mechanisms of photo-Fenton process with chelated iron are not yet clearly defined. In this study, five organic fertilizers were used as iron complexes to investigate the role of sunlight and oxygen in photo-Fenton at near neutral pH. UV absorbance and stability constant of each selected iron chelate is different, and this work demonstrates that these parameters affect the reaction mechanisms in SMX degradation. Irradiation experiments without H₂O₂ revealed that only EDDS-Fe and DTPA-Fe achieved SMX degradation, but different iron release. These results, together with soluble oxygen free experiments, allowed the proposal of complementary reaction mechanisms to those of the classical photo-Fenton. The proposed mechanisms start through the potential photoexcitation of the iron complex, followed by subsequent oxygen-mediated hydroxyl radical generation reactions that are different for EDDS-Fe and DTPA-Fe. Moreover, irradiation experiments using EDTA-Fe and HEDTA-Fe had negligible SMX degradation despite iron release was observed, evidencing the differences between iron chelates.

Photo-mediated and advanced oxidative processes applied for the treatment of effluents with drugs used for the treatment of early COVID-19: Review

The COVID-19 pandemic is proving to be one of the most challenging health and social crises ever faced by humanity. Several drugs have been proposed as potential antiviral agents for the treatment of COVID-19 since the beginning of the health crisis. Among them are chloroquine (CQ), hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), ivermectin (IVM), and the combination of QC or HCQ and azithromycin (AZI). The use of these and several other drugs has grown sharply, even if there is proof of ineffectiveness in the early treatment or mild cases of COVID-19. Thus, there is great concern about the potential environmental impacts of the effluents released with the presence of these drugs. Therefore, this work aimed to carry out a literature review on wastewater treatment processes, focusing on removing these substances through advanced oxidation process. As the conventional effluent treatment processes do not have high efficiency for removal, it was concentrated in the literature that had as scope advanced and photo-mediated techniques to remove CQ, HCQ, IVM, and AZI. It is expected, with this work, to highlight the importance of conducting research that contributes to the control of pollution and contamination.

Simultaneous bacterial inactivation and microcontaminant removal by solar photo-Fenton mediated by Fe3+-NTA in WWTP secondary effluents

Simultaneous microorganism inactivation and organic microcontaminant removal in municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) secondary effluents by the solar photo-Fenton process mediated by Fe³⁺-NTA is studied in depth. To achieve this objective, different key aspects were addressed: (i) the effect of initial Fe³⁺-NTA concentration at 1:1 molar ratio (0.10-0.30 mM) and H₂O₂ concentration (1.47-5.88 mM), (ii) the effect of initial microorganism load (10³ and 10⁶ CFU/mL) and (iii) the impact of the disinfection target on treatment cost. The first stage of this work was carried out in simulated WWTP effluent spiked with 100 µg/L of imidacloprid (IMD) as model microcontaminant and inoculated with Escherichia coli (E. coli) K-12 as reference strain, in a pilot scale raceway pond reactor with 5-cm of liquid-depth. Secondly, the most cost-effective conditions were validated in actual WWTP effluent. The kinetic analysis revealed that increasing Fe³⁺-NTA concentration over 0.20 mM does not significantly reduce treatment time due to the limited effect caused on the volumetric rate photon absorption. Treatment cost is determined by the disinfection process, since IMD removal was always faster than E. coli inactivation. The most cost-effective strategy to achieve 10 CFU/100 mL of E. coli (Regulation EU 2020/741) was 0.20/4.41 mM Fe³⁺-NTA/H₂O₂, with a cost of 0.32 €/m³. A less restrictive disinfection target, 100 CFU/100 mL, allowed reducing reactant concentration and cost, 0.10/1.47 mM Fe³⁺-NTA/H₂O₂ and 0.15 €/m³, respectively. In both cases, no regrowth at 24 h and more than 90% of IMD removal were observed.

Ferroin in dyes degradation by Fenton-like process: a chemical waste recycling perspective

Published literature describes the formation of the Fe (II)-phenanthroline complex (ferroin) as a stop way for Fenton processes, reducing radical yield. By contrast, this study presents evidence that ferroin can be activated by UVA in mildly acidic media in a photo-Fenton-like process. Because ferroin is the main waste from total iron determination in environmental samples, a recycling approach is suggested. Based on the best practices of waste management planning, an application of the proposed method for treating another chemical waste is presented. Titrimetric ammonia determination waste containing 2.67 mg L^-1 methyl red azo dye and 1.33 mg L^-1 methylene blue was degraded using the optimized experimental conditions: pH = 5.2-5.4; [H₂O₂] = 310 mg L^-1; [ferroin] = 1.4 mg L^-1; temperature = 36 ± 1 °C; reaction time = 165 min under UVA irradiation. Attenuation of most intense spectroscopic bands for the dyes achieved 94% (510 nm) and 96% (665 nm) reduction for methyl red and methylene blue, respectively, with degradation of ferroin itself. The present work brings empirical evidence that is possible to recycle ferroin as photo-Fenton-like process catalyst, as well as determine the best conditions for providing less acidic treated effluents with negligible suspended solid concentration, better than that obtained from classical photo-Fenton processes.

The enhanced mixing states of oxalate with metals in single particles in Guangzhou, China

Recently, internal mixing states of oxalate with metals in single particles have been reported from field studies, yet the role of metals in the formation processes of oxalate remains unclear due to the diversity of chemical components and complex atmospheric environment. In this study, the mixing states of oxalate with five metals, including zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), vanadium (V) and iron (Fe) were investigated in Guangzhou, China. It was found that 55% of oxalate-containing particles were internally mixed with these metals. The number fraction of oxalate in the metal-containing particles ranged from 5.4-26%, which is much higher than that in the total detected particles (4.0%), indicating significant enrichment of oxalate in the metal-containing particles. Enhanced oxalate production was found in the Fe- and V-containing particles based on distinctly higher relative peak area (RPA) ratios of oxalate to its precursors compared to the total particles, possibly due to enhanced aqueous phase reactions in the Fe- and V-containing particles. However, enrichment of oxalate in the Zn-, Pb-, and Cu-containing particles was possibly associated with complexation of gas phase oxalic acid with the metals, as indicated by the small increase in RPA ratios in these particles. On the other hand, the internal mixing of oxalate with metals was found to provide a way of efficient photolysis of oxalate-metal complexes, which led to a decrease in oxalate after sunrise in the metal-containing particles. In this study, the enhanced mixing states of oxalate with metals have revealed the important role of metals in the production and degradation of oxalate, providing insights for the evaluation of metals in the formation processes of organic aerosol in field studies, which is beneficial to the further study of air pollution in metal emission areas.

A Critical Review on Removal of Gaseous Pollutants Using Sulfate Radical-based Advanced Oxidation Technologies

Excessive emissions of gaseous pollutants such as SO₂, NO_x, heavy metals (Hg, As, etc.), H₂S, VOCs, etc. have triggered a series of environmental pollution incidents. Sulfate radical (SO₄•^-)-based advanced oxidation technologies (AOTs) are one of the most promising gaseous pollutants removal technologies because they can not only produce active free radicals with strong oxidation ability to simultaneously degrade most of gaseous pollutants, but also their reaction processes are environmentally friendly. However, so far, the special review focusing on gaseous pollutants removal using SO₄•^--based AOTs is not reported. This review reports the latest advances in removal of gaseous pollutants (e.g., SO₂, NO_x, Hg, As, H₂S, and VOCs) using SO₄•^--based AOTs. The performance, mechanism, active species identification and advantages/disadvantages of these removal technologies using SO₄•^--based AOTs are reviewed. The existing challenges and further research suggestions are also commented. Results show that SO₄•^--based AOTs possess good development potential in gaseous pollutant control field due to simple reagent transportation and storage, low product post-treatment requirements and strong degradation ability of refractory pollutants. Each SO₄•^--based AOT possesses its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of removal performance, cost, reliability, and product post-treatment. Low free radical yield, poor removal capacity, unclear removal mechanism/contribution of active species, unreliable technology and high cost are still the main problems in this field. The combined use of multiactivation technologies is one of the promising strategies to overcome these defects since it may make up for the shortcomings of independent technology. In order to improve free radical yield and pollutant removal capacity, enhancement of mass transfer and optimization design of reactor are critical issues. Comprehensive consideration of catalytic materials, removal chemistry, mass transfer and reactor is the promising route to solve these problems. In order to clarify removal mechanism, it is essential to select suitable free radical sacrificial agents, probes and spin trapping agents, which possess high selectivity for target specie, high solubility in water, and little effect on activity of catalyst itself and mass transfer/diffusion parameters. In order to further reduce investment and operating costs, it is necessary to carry out the related studies on simultaneous removal of more gaseous pollutants.