Advanced Electro-Fenton for Emerging Contaminants: Scalable and Sustainable Solutions

The field of water and wastewater engineering is undergoing a rapid transformation driven by the need to address persistent and emerging contaminants, including pharmaceuticals, personal-care products, pesticides, microplastics, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These pollutants resist conventional biological and physicochemical treatments, raising global concerns about water quality and environmental health.In recent years, the Electro-Fenton (EF) process, an advanced electrochemical oxidation technique, has emerged as a promising tool for mineralizing recalcitrant organics through the in-situ generation of hydroxyl radicals. However, despite demonstrable laboratory-scale success, its practical deployment remains hindered by challenges such as energy consumption, electrode fouling, iron sludge management, and reactor scalability. Recent advances in electrode material design, hybrid EF systems (such as photo-EF, sono-EF, and electrochemical-biointegrated approaches), and the integration of renewable energy sources offer new pathways to overcome these limitations. Yet, efforts to bring these innovations to sustainable, real-scale applications are still scarce and fragmented, illustrating an urgent need for collaborative and multidisciplinary research to bridge the gap between mechanistic insights and field implementation.This Research Topic focuses on next-generation Electro-Fenton strategies for the effective abatement of emerging contaminants in water and wastewater, emphasizing sustainability, performance optimization, and scalability. The goal is to gather contributions that clarify mechanisms of contaminant degradation, propose new electrode and catalyst materials, introduce energy-efficient reactor designs, and integrate EF systems with complementary processes to enhance robustness and reduce environmental footprints. By uniting theoretical modeling, experimental validation, and techno-economic analysis, this collection will promote the development of circular, resource-efficient treatment technologies that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6 and 12).We welcome submissions addressing (but not limited to) the following themes:-- Design, synthesis, and characterization of advanced, durable catalysts and electrodes for enhanced Electro-Fenton efficiency and long-term stability.-- Pilot-scale and continuous-flow Electro-Fenton systems for industrial and municipal wastewater treatment, including scale-up challenges and advancement of Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) for industrial applications.-- AI- and machine learning-assisted optimization, process control, parameter tuning, and predictive modeling of Electro-Fenton processes.-- Target abatement of critical emerging contaminants, including microplastics, PFAS, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals.-- Coupling Electro-Fenton with renewable energy sources (solar, wind, or waste-to-energy).-- Hybrid and combined systems (photo-EF, sono-EF, bio-EF, or electrochemical advanced oxidation hybrids).-- Mechanistic modeling and kinetic studies of emerging contaminant degradation pathways.-- Iron cycling, sludge minimization, and resource recovery strategies in EF processes.-- Life-cycle, cost, and energy assessments for sustainable large-scale implementation.-- Policy, regulatory, and environmental perspectives on applying Electro-Fenton technology for future wastewater management.We welcome original research, reviews, perspectives, mini-reviews, and FAIR² Data articles. Topic editors: Fiderman Machuca-Martinez, Ciro Fernando Bustillo LeCompte, Mahdi Sanavi Fard Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84077/advanced-electro-fenton-for-emerging-contaminants-scalable-and-sustainable-solutions