A review of the recent advances on the treatment of industrial wastewaters by Sulfate Radical-based Advanced Oxidation Processes (SR-AOPs)

Over the last years, Sulfate Radical-based Advanced Oxidation Processes (SR-AOPs) have received considerable attention due to their high versatility and efficacy in disinfection and decontamination. Their advantages over classical AOPs, the generation of sulfate radicals (SO4 center dot-) from peroxydisulfate (PDS, S2O82-), or joint sulfate and hydroxyl radicals (HO center dot) production from peroxymonosulfate (PMS, HSO5-) and their abundant activation methods have facilitated their introduction into various remediation and effluent decontamination processes. In this review, we present the advances in the field of industrial wastewater (IWW) treatment by SR-AOPs, by activation of either PMS or PDS via any suitable method, in homogeneous or heterogeneous (photo)catalytic processes. This review aims to present the state of the art in SR-AOPs application for IWW treatment, and act as a guideline of the field advances, summarize the previous application experiences, hence avoid research pitfalls and empower better IWW treatment practices. After an integrated presentation of the dominant pathways to-wards IWW decontamination, we discuss the SR-AOPs application in the treatment of effluents such as landfill leachate, petrochemical and pharmaceutical WW, pulp or paper industry effluents, textile and winery WW, as well as less studied processes such as coking, olive mill or soil washing effluents. Finally, the advantages and shortcomings of SR-AOPs for IWW treatment, as well as their perspectives are discussed.

Automated summary

SR-AOPs have gained significant attention in recent years for their versatility and efficacy in disinfection and decontamination. These processes, which generate sulfate radicals or sulfate and hydroxyl radicals, have been successfully applied in the treatment of various industrial wastewater, providing a potential solution for better wastewater treatment practices.