Utilization of Natural Mineral Materials in Environmental Remediation: Processes and Applications

The discharge of wastewater containing persistent organic pollutants presents significant ecological and health challenges due to their toxicity and resilience. Recent advances in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) and other remediation mechanisms, notably utilizing natural mineral materials (NMMs), offer promising solutions to these challenges. NMMs, with their cost-effectiveness, accessibility, eco-friendly nature, non-toxicity, and unique structural properties, have shown significant promise in environmental remediation and could effectively replace conventional catalysts in related applications. These minerals enable the activation of oxidants, generating reactive oxygen species crucial for the degradation of pollutants. This article reviews the mechanisms of NMMs in various AOPs, including photocatalysis, Fenton-like reactions, and persulfate-activation-based processes, and discusses the potential of these materials in enhancing pollutant degradation efficiency, with a focus on the activation of persulfates and the photo-induced redox processes. The synergy between photocatalytic properties and catalytic activation provided by NMMs offers a robust approach to managing water pollution without the drawbacks of secondary waste production, thus supporting sustainable remediation efforts.