Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2025, Vol. 78: 47-74.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(25)64807-8

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The application of photocatalysis and biodegradation synergistic systems in environmental remediation: A review

Ruilin Caoa, Yuan Pana, Xiansheng Zhanga, Xinyi Huanga, Teng Lia, Sheng Liua, Yunze Wanga, Shanqing Tanga, Binbin Shaob,*(), Zhifeng Liua,*()   

  1. aHunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
    bSchool of Design, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
  • Received:2025-05-06 Accepted:2025-07-16 Online:2025-11-18 Published:2025-10-14
  • Contact: *E-mail: shaobb@hnu.edu.cn (B. Shao), zhifengliu@hnu.edu.cn (Z. Liu).
  • About author:Binbin Shao (School of Design, Hunan University) received his B.A. degree from Jiangxi University of Science and Technology (China) in 2015, and Ph.D. degree from College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University in 2020. He carried out postdoctoral research at College of Environmental Science and Engineering in Hunan University (China) from 2020 to 2023. Since the end of 2023, he has been working in School of Design, Hunan University. His research interests currently focus on wastewater treatment, advanced oxidation processes, solid waste treatment and resource utilization, life-cycle assessment, sustainable agriculture, sustainable design, etc. He has coauthored more than 70 peer-reviewed papers, with the total citations of these papers exceeding 8000 times, and his H-index is 52. He was invited as a Young Editorial Board Member of Eco-Environment & Health and Carbon Neutralization. He has been included in the list of World’s Top 2% Scientists from 2021-2024.
    Zhifeng Liu (College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University) received his Ph.D. degree from Hunan University in 2012. He is a specially-appointed professor of "Yuelu Scholar" at Hunan University, a doctoral supervisor, and an Elsevier Highly Cited Researcher. He mainly engages in research on soil and water environment management and ecological restoration, solid waste treatment and resource recovery. He has presided over more than 50 projects, published more than 140 papers, including more than 10 ESI hot papers and over 30 ESI highly cited papers, with his papers being cited more than 12000 times. He has applied for/been granted more than 80 international and domestic patents, with several achievements transferred to enterprises or put into practical application.
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(52100181);Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(2022JJ10011);Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(531118010885);Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(2025JJ50218)

Abstract:

The growing presence of emerging pollutants in the environment has led to a focus on developing new treatment technologies to address the limitations of traditional methods. Recent advancements in combining photocatalysis with biodegradation for pollutant treatment have garnered significant attention. This is due to the rapid and uncontrolled chemical reactions in single photocatalytic processes, which often result in the buildup of harmful by-products and over-oxidation residues. Additionally, relying solely on biodegradation is challenging for breaking down emerging pollutants that possess high concentrations and intricate structures. Therefore, the intimately coupled photocatalysis and biodegradation (ICPB) systems, along with the photocatalytic microbial fuel cells (PMFCs), as a new approach to treat pollutants. These systems combine the benefits of biodegradation and photocatalytic reactions, providing cost-effective, eco-friendly, and sustainable solutions with significant promise. In order to demonstrate the ICPB system and the PMFCs system as rational options for pollutant removal, the mechanisms of pollutant degradation by the two systems have been analyzed in depth, and recent advances in photocatalysts, biofilms, and carriers/configurations in the two systems have been summarized. Furthermore, the practical applications of the ICPB system versus the PMFCs system for pollutant removal are also summarized and highlighted. This review further points out the current limitations, such as photocatalytic materials that are still challenging in terms of commercial viability for practical applications, and looks forward to the prospects of the ICPB system versus the PMFCs system for the treatment of pollutants to promote practical applications.

Key words: Photocatalysis, Biodegradation, Intimately coupled photocatalysis and biodegradation system, Photocatalytic microbial fuel cells, Wastewater purification