Degradation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by Fenton reactions

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent organic pollutants with widespread environmental and health threats due to their chemical stability and bioaccumulative potential. The Fenton-based degradation of PFAS demonstrates several advantages, including mild reaction conditions, operational simplicity, and cost-effectiveness, while simultaneously facing challenges such as inefficient cleavage of carbon-fluorine (C–F) bonds and low mineralization. This review comprehensively summarizes the degradation of PFAS using Fenton-based reactions, focusing on mechanisms, efficiencies, and technological advancements. Firstly, the reasons for PFAS prevalence in human society, their pathways into biological systems, the associated health risks, as well as their global distribution and contamination status are elucidated. Secondly, the current major PFAS degradation approaches are summarized, highlighting the principal advantages of Fenton-based degradation. Thirdly, a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in Fenton-based PFAS degradation technologies are reviewed, including chemical-Fenton, electro-Fenton, photo-Fenton, and photo-electro-Fenton processes. Finally, the future research directions are discussed, focusing on catalyst design optimization, structure-activity relationship, and feasibility assessment for large-scale applications. This review provides a critical foundation for advancing sustainable PFAS remediation technologies.