Critical review on wastewater treatment using photo catalytic advanced oxidation process: Role of photocatalytic materials, reactor design and kinetics

The presence of persistent organic compounds in wastewater poses significant challenges to both biotic community and natural environment, resulting in a severely adverse effect on the ecosystem. In view of the urgent scenarios, the removal of pollutants from wastewater effluent has a significant potential to restore ecological equilibrium and maintain the social value of sustainability. Among the various methods used for wastewater treatment, photocatalytic advanced oxidation processes have gained as a viable and promising alternative approach. The objective of this review paper is to provide a comprehensive exploration of the various photocatalytic materials used in wastewater treatment with potential scopes for future enhancements. Further, various factors affecting the removal of pollutants from wastewater are highlighted. In particular, the selection, design aspects and scaleup criteria of photocatalytic reactors could assist in the establishment of commercial scale process. This review stimulates research on the kinetic study in order to get a deeper understanding of the mechanisms involved in the formation of novel photo-catalyst materials. Thus, photo catalytic advanced oxidation process could become as a spectacular treatment method for wastewater.