Catalytic hydrodehalogenation of halogenated disinfection byproducts for clean drinking water production: A review

Water treatment plants applied large amount of chlorine to eliminate microorganisms and prevent future microbial contamination of drinking water. Electrophilic substitution and electron transfer activities between natural organic matter (NOM) and free chlorine resulted in the formation of chlorinated disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Chlorinated DBPs' consumption and exposure provoked severe health risks susceptible to cause death and/or lifetime illness. Conventional water treatment approaches such as membrane filtration, adsorption, sedimentation, and coagulation are much appropriated to eliminate chlorinated DBPs' precursors with a percentage removal estimated at 70. At the lowest concentration of chlorinated DBPs, conventional water treatment approaches fail to eliminate chlorinated DBPs in drinking water. In this review, we discussed catalytic hydrodehalogenation as an efficient approach to advance a complete eradication of chlorinated DBPs in drinking water. Metal nanocatalysts contributions were reviewed to understand the chemical pathways throughout the catalytic hydrodehalogenation of chlorinated DBPs. Palladium received much attention as metal nanocatalysts to facilitate the catalytic hydrodehalogenation of chlorinated DBPs. Catalytic investigations through novel nanocatalysts exploration should be intensified to gain insights in catalytic hydrodehalogenation of chlorinated DBPs and advance its possible incorporation in water treatment technology.