Effect of water matrix on photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in water: a literature review

Abstract The water matrix plays a complex and significant role in photocatalytic degradation by influencing several factors, including dissolved anions and cations, the presence of natural organic matter, dissolved oxygen, suspended particles, turbidity, pH, and temperature. Optimizing photocatalytic processes for practical water treatment applications necessitates understanding these relationships. The efficiency and efficacy of photocatalytic water treatment systems in degrading organic contaminants can be enhanced by carefully considering and manipulating the water matrix. Based on literature published between 2000 and 2024, this review aims to comprehend the effects of contaminants and water quality on the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. Researchers have employed various water matrices and reaction conditions to understand the interactions and impacts of different water matrix pollutants on photodegradation. The literature analysis revealed that when chloride and sulfate ions interact with reactive oxygen species and photocatalysts, their effects are predominantly inhibitory, thereby reducing the photocatalytic activity of the catalysts. Conversely, nitrate ions can exhibit an inhibitory effect under certain conditions by scavenging hydroxyl radicals while promoting photodegradation in other scenarios by generating more reactive oxygen species. The degree of inhibition varies according to the concentration of these factors.