Integrated photocatalytic technologies in water treatment using ferrites nanoparticles

Ferrite-based materials are becoming increasingly attractive as heterogeneous photocatalysts. Their photocatalytic performance can be limited by fast recombination of charge carriers, particle agglomeration, and low light absorption. Therefore, integrated photocatalytic technologies are one of many options being explored to overcome these limitations. This paper presents a critical review and discussion on the recent application of ferrites-based photocatalysts in the degradation of organic pollutants using integrated photocatalytic technologies such as photocatalytic ozonation (PCO), photo-electrocatalysis (PEC), and sono-photocatalysis (SPC). This review reveals that such integrated photocatalytic technologies offer effective strategies for improving photocatalytic efficiency in the remediation of organic and inorganic pollutants. PCO provides enhanced production of hydroxyl radicals, resulting in high degradation efficiency. PEC provides effective charge carrier separation, thereby improving photocatalytic efficiency. SPC offers high synergy by simultaneously increasing the exposure of active sites and the production of hydroxyl radicals from photo and non-photo catalytic activation. PCO, PEC, and SPC have great potential to accelerate the deployment of advanced photocatalytic (waste)water treatment technology.