Recent advances of photocatalytic coupling technologies for wastewater treatment

As industrial advancements and population growth continue, environmental pollution has become an increasingly severe global concern. The discharge of both conventional and emergent refractory organic pollutants has led to an increasingly complex and diverse array of organic pollutants in water bodies. Photocatalysis is an environmentally friendly oxidation technology that holds significant promise for the degradation and mineralization of organic pollutants in wastewater. However, the practical application of photocatalysis is significantly limited by its low light utilization rate, challenging recovery process, and low quantum yield. To address these constraints, photocatalytic coupling technologies have emerged as a new approach. This review briefly discusses the mechanisms, research progress, and problems associated with photocatalysis for wastewater treatment. Subsequently, it provides an overview of research progress on technologies that couple photocatalysis with other water treatment technologies, and some typical research is highlighted to detail the advantages and mechanisms of various photocatalytic coupling technologies. Finally, the challenges and prospects for photocatalytic coupling technologies in wastewater treatment are presented. We hope this review will inspire more researchers to consider this important domain.