Page 9 - AJWEP-22-4

Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution. Vol. 22, No. 4 (2025), pp. 1.
doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025240194

EDITORIAL

Progress and challenges in heterogeneous advanced
oxidation processes for water treatment

Chengyun Zhou*

College of Environmental Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control
(Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China
*Corresponding author: Chengyun Zhou (zhouchengyun@hnu.edu.cn)

Received: June 12, 2025; Published online: June 30, 2025

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have become areas of attention and are not yet fully understood in
a vital solution for eliminating emerging organic the context of heterogeneous advanced oxidation
contaminants (EOCs) from water. These processes, which technologies. Extensive monitoring and research are
generate highly reactive species like hydroxyl radicals, needed to assess the potential risks posed by residual
are particularly effective in degrading EOCs that resist by-products to public health, and such risks should
conventional treatment methods. As a key technology be reasonably controlled. With continuous innovation
for reducing refractory pollutants, heterogeneous in catalyst design and process optimization, there is
AOPs have developed rapidly in recent years. Low- an urgent need to prioritize sustainable and practical
cost heterogeneous catalysts are commonly used to methods. Future researchers are encouraged to test
activate chemical oxidants and produce various reactive the performance of the material over long durations or
oxygen species through interfacial reactions to degrade under adverse conditions to avoid the use of functional
pollutants. Compared with the traditional homogeneous materials prone to leaching harmful substances.
Fenton process, heterogeneous AOPs can significantly Addressing these challenges will further promote
reduce reagent consumption and sludge production. the development of AOP technology and provide an
Heterogeneous catalysts, such as single atom catalysts, important theoretical and practical basis for advancing
carbon materials, metal oxides, and metal-organic water treatment methods targeting new pollutants.
frameworks, have been extensively studied for their
ability to activate oxidants (e.g., persulfate, peracetic Conflict of interest
acid, periodate, hydrogen peroxide, and ozone) under
various conditions. These catalysts offer high catalytic Chengyun Zhou is the Editor-in-Chief of this journal
activity and are ideal for large-scale water treatment. and declares no known competing financial interests
However, the long-term stability of heterogeneous or personal relationships that could have influenced the
catalysts and the toxicity of degradation products remain work reported in this editorial.

Volume 22 Issue 4 (2025) 1 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025240194