Persulfate activation by organic compounds: advancements and challenges
Piotr Zawadzki
Abstract
In the context of contaminants of emerging concern occurring in the environment, the urgent need to develop technologies for their effective removal is justified. The use of highly reactive sulfate radicals (SO4•−) appears to be a valuable alternative to conventional oxidants used in water and wastewater technologies. Transition metal ions, thermal, photolytic, sonolytic, and radiolytic methods are conventional methods of persulfate (PS) activation to generate SO4•− radicals. In recent years, research has moved to alternative technologies of PS activation, that is, organic compounds (e.g. ascorbic acid, glucose, or quinones), to improve the degradation efficiency of contaminants. This paper discusses the organic compounds used to activate PS, critically reviewing their effectiveness in removing organic contaminants from water or wastewater.