Iron-based catalysts for persulfate-based advanced oxidation process: Microstructure, property and tailoring

[Display omitted] •Influence factors of AOPs of iron-based catalysts were comprehensively summarized.•Active species and catalytic mechanism of iron-based catalysts were explored.•The key issues and possible research directions have made some corresponding outlooks. Sulfate radicals (SO4−)-based advanced oxidation processes have obtained far-reaching attention due to their high catalytic activity and selectively for intricate water environmental pollutants. The couple of cheap and readily available iron-based materials and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) or persulfate (PS) is an effective measure to generate incalculabe reactive sulfate radicals. The article analyzed the latest research progress on different typical heterogeneous iron-based catalysts for PMS or PS activation. The microstructure and electrical properties of these catalysts and the effects of different tailoring engineering approaches (such as structure defect, heteroatom doping, and rugulation of pore structure, etc) in PMS or PS activation were summarized. In addition, the environmental factors of iron-based materials-PMS (PS) systems in organic pollutants degradation and related advanced oxidation processes were also summarized. Finally, critical discussion and possible future prospects on challenges related to degradation mechanism exploration, potential catalysts development as well as practical catalytic system application were also proposed.