Catalytic degradation of brominated flame retardants in the environment: New techniques and research highlights

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 848; p. 157695
• Main Authors: Dong, Jingcun, Li, Guoliang, Gao, Jia, Zhang, He, Bi, Shihao, Liu, Sijin, Liao, Chunyang, Jiang, Guibin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 20.11.2022
• Subjects: Brominated flame retardants (BFRs); Catalytic degradation; Composite system; Degradation mechanisms; Oxidation; Reduction; Brominated flame retardants (BFRs); Composite system; Reduction; Oxidation; Degradation mechanisms; Catalytic degradation
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157695

Due to the extensive commercial use of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), human beings are chronically exposed to BFRs, causing great harms to human health, which imposes urgent demands to degrade them in the environment. Among various degradation techniques, catalytic degradation has been proven to be outstanding because of its rapidness and effectiveness. Therefore, much attention has been given to catalytic degradation, especially the extensively studied photocatalytic degradation and nanocatalytic reduction techniques. Recently, some novel advanced catalytic techniques have been developed and show excellent catalytic degradation efficiency for BFRs, including natural substances catalytic degradation, new Fenton catalytic degradation, new chemical reagent catalytic degradation, new material catalytic degradation, electrocatalytic degradation, plasma catalytic degradation, and composite catalytic degradation systems. In addition to the common features of traditional catalytic techniques, these novel techniques possess their own specific advantages in various aspects. Therefore, this review summarized the degradation mechanism of BFRs by the above new catalytic degradation methods under the laboratory conditions, simulated real environment, and real environment conditions, and further evaluated their advantages and disadvantages, aiming to provide some research ideas for the catalytic degradation of BFRs in the environment in the future. We suggested that more attention should focus on features of novel catalytic techniques, including eco-friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and pragmatic usefulness. [Display omitted] •Newly developed catalytic degradation methods for efficient removal of BFRs were summarized.•Catalytic degradation mechanisms of BFRs by various methods were discussed in detail.•Catalytic degradation of BFRs by natural substances is the most environmentally friendly method.•Composite systems are promising for catalytic degradation of BFRs with diverse possibilities.•Future line of research on the catalytic degradation of BFRs was recommended.