Sustainable Electro-Fenton System for Water/Wastewater Treatment

The electro-Fenton (EF) process has emerged as one of the leading wastewater treatment technologies over the last decades, as it produces H2O2 in situ via the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e− ORR) and yields highly oxidizing hydroxyl radicals (•OH) via Fenton chemistry for the degradation of recalcitrant organic pollutants. However, its large-scale application remains constrained. Efforts to develop sustainable EF systems have focused on three key areas: 1) Fabricating/modifying carbon-based cathodes for persistent and efficient H2O2 production; 2) Developing stable and active Fenton’s catalysts for efficient •OH generation; and 3) Design sustainable EF reactors for large-scale wastewater treatment. This chapter systematically reviews the development of sustainable EF systems from these perspectives, with a special emphasis on the fundamental understanding of catalyst deactivation and electrode damage, as well as the corresponding solutions. It provides a comprehensive roadmap for advancing the industrial-scale application of EF technology.