Microwave-responsive catalysts for wastewater treatment: A review

Microwave-assisted catalysis technology has the advantages of high reaction speed, simple equipment and convenient operation, showing broad application prospects in the field of water treatment. A complete understanding of the interactions between microwave and the catalyst can be conducive to the further development of microwave-assisted catalysis technology for application to wastewater treatment. This review first introduces the microwave theory and microwave heating mechanism during microwave-assisted catalysis processes briefly. Microwave-responsive catalysts are then classified in detail, and common characterization methods of catalysts are also described briefly. Subsequently, the effective parameters, kinetics, and mechanisms and pathways in microwave-assisted catalytic reactions are emphatically discussed. Typical practical cases are also provided to introduce the applications of microwave-responsive catalysts in the water treatment field. Finally, possible research challenges and directions for microwave-responsive catalysts applied to wastewater treatment in the future are summarized.