Peroxymonosulfate activation induced by spinel ferrite nanoparticles and their nanocomposites for organic pollutants removal: A review

In the face of the increasingly serious water pollution problem, sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation processes gradually developed due to their remarkable ability to degrade refractory organic pollutants. Spinel ferrite nanoparticles (NPs) and their nanocomposites (NCs) can be used as catalysts to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) with great catalytic performance, high stability, and reusability, which has attracted some attention of scholars in recent years. Firstly, the advantages and mechanisms of PMS activation induced by various spinel ferrite NPs and their NCs for organic pollutants removal are reviewed in this paper. Secondly, the influence factors of catalyst performance and PMS activation are discussed. Finally, the challenges of PMS activation induced by spinel ferrite NPs and their NCs are put forward and the direction of improvement is proposed. [Display omitted] •Recent advances of spinel ferrite NPs and their NCs in peroxymonosulfate activation are reviewed.•The frequently-used synthesis methods, activation mechanisms, and influence factors are discussed.•Challenges and the direction of improvement are provided.