Advanced Oxidation Processes for Organic Pollutant Degradation

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) offer a robust suite of technologies designed to mineralise recalcitrant organic contaminants via in situ generation of highly reactive species. Central to their efficacy are hydroxyl and sulphate radicals produced through diverse activation routes including photocatalysis, Fenton and Fenton-like reactions, ozone-based oxidation, electrogenerated hydrogen peroxide and persulfate activations. Recent innovations focus on atomic-level catalyst design, catalyst confinement strategies and novel reaction paradigms that improve selectivity, energy efficiency and resistance to scavenging by background matrix components. Collectively, these advances have elevated AOPs towards practical implementation in wastewater treatment, potable-water reuse and industrial-effluent remediation, demonstrating broad applicability across variable water chemistries and pollutant classes.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A nanoconfined Fenton-like catalyst was developed by encasing cobalt oxide nanoparticles within carbon nanotube channels, selectively enriching singlet oxygen generation. This spatial confinement lowers activation barriers and localises reactive species, achieving rapid degradation rates and enhanced selectivity in complex water matrices. A complementary paradigm shift introduced the direct oxidative transfer process (DOTP), whereby persulfate activation is harnessed to lower pollutant redox potentials and drive non-decomposing oxidative transfer to catalyst surfaces. DOTP operates without external energy input, with minimal oxidant consumption and negligible by-product formation, enabling spontaneous and complete contaminant removal. In addition, a superhydrophobic gas-diffusion electrode for electrosynthesis of hydrogen peroxide has been demonstrated, achieving high oxygen utilisation and stable production rates. This approach provides a green, decentralised source of oxidant for AOP integration in water-treatment systems.

Advanced Oxidation Processes for Organic Pollutant Degradation publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in advanced oxidation processes for organic pollutant degradation across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs): Treatment methods that generate reactive radicals to oxidise and mineralise organic pollutants.

Fenton reaction: Iron-catalysed conversion of hydrogen peroxide to hydroxyl radicals.

Peroxymonosulfate (PMS): A persulfate oxidant activated to produce sulphate radicals in AOPs.

Sulphate radicals (SO4•–): Highly reactive species for selective oxidation of organic contaminants.

Singlet oxygen (1O2): Non-radical reactive oxygen species with selective oxidation properties.

Direct oxidative transfer process (DOTP): A pollutant activation mechanism that drives non-decomposing oxidative transfer to catalyst surfaces.

Nanoconfinement: Spatial limitation of catalysts at the nanoscale to enhance reactive-species generation and selectivity.

References

1. Water decontamination via nonradical process by nanoconfined Fenton-like catalysts. Nature Communications (2023).
2. Simultaneous nanocatalytic surface activation of pollutants and oxidants for highly efficient water decontamination. Nature Communications (2022).
3. Highly efficient electrosynthesis of hydrogen peroxide on a superhydrophobic three-phase interface by natural air diffusion. Nature Communications (2020).
4. Asymmetrically Coordinated CoB1N3 Moieties for Selective Generation of High‐Valence Co‐Oxo Species via Coupled Electron–Proton Transfer in Fenton‐like Reactions. Advanced Materials (2023).
5. Ozonation of organic compounds in water and wastewater: A critical review. Water Research (2022).
6. Activation of Peroxymonosulfate by Oxygen Vacancies-Enriched Cobalt-Doped Black TiO2 Nanotubes for the Removal of Organic Pollutants. Environmental Science and Technology (2019).