Electro-Fenton Process for the Treatment of Antibiotics in Water: A Review

Abstract The extensive use of antibiotics and their persistent residues have posed significant ecological and public health concerns. Electro-Fenton (EF) process, as an advanced oxidation process, has emerged as a promising approach for antibiotic degradation in wastewater. First, the EF process is briefly compared with other wastewater treatment technologies, followed by an overview of its reaction mechanisms and major process configurations. Particular emphasis is placed on the generation and identification of reactive oxygen species (ROS), especially the emerging role of singlet oxygen, and the limitations of current ROS identification strategies. Recent developments in catalyst design, including metallic materials, carbon-based composite metallic materials, and nonmetallic doped carbon materials, are critically reviewed. The effects of key operational parameters and water matrix components, including pH, current density, electrode spacing, coexisting ions, dissolved organic matter, and reactor configuration, are discussed. Special attention is also given to the dual role of chloride ions. Finally, current challenges, knowledge gaps, and future research directions related to process optimization, reactor engineering, scale-up implementation, sustainability assessment, and intelligent design strategies are highlighted to facilitate the practical application of EF technology for sustainable water treatment.