Research progress on activated persulfate by biochar: Soil and water environment remediation, mechanism exploration and simulation calculation

Soil and water environmental pollution continues to pose a substantial threat, accounting for approximately 30 % of all global environmental issues. Among the various remediation strategies, biochar, characterized by its exceptional porous structure, a specific surface area ranging from 500 to 1500 m2/g, and a diverse array of functional groups, stands as a highly effective adsorbent and catalytic material. It has been extensively applied in environmental restoration efforts. Notably, in recent years, the technology involving biochar-activated persulfate (PS) has garnered significant attention, accounting for over 20 % of all published research in this field. A detailed discussion was conducted on the preparation methods of biochar, the research progress and mechanism of activating PS to remediate organic pollutants in soil and water by summarizing and refining relevant research. Specifically, the application of Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations in elucidating the interaction mechanisms between biochar and PS has been thoroughly investigated, uncovering the electron transfer process between the functional groups on the biochar surface and PS, thus facilitating the degradation of organic pollutants. Moreover, this article also explores the challenges and future directions of the biochar-activated PS technology in practical applications, aiming to offer new insights and methods for the restoration of soil and water environments. It provides a theoretical foundation for further exploration of its mechanism of action and the optimization of application conditions.