Chemical removal of m-cresol: a critical review

Abstract

m-Cresol containing wastewater has generally become a globally environmental issue due to its refractory and high toxicity towards plants, animals and human being. The development of m-cresol related industries increases the risk of excessive m-cresol discharge, making high efficiency methods to treat m-cresol an urgent topic in both economic and environmental aspects. This review focuses on the chemical treatment methods of m-cresol wastewater, including chemical adsorption, photocatalytic degradation, electrocatalytic degradation and catalytic wet oxidation. The efficiency, cost and process optimization of different methods are discussed in detail. Chemical adsorption is convenient but has relatively low efficiency. Photocatalytic degradation is an easily operated technology with high efficiency, but the selection of catalyst is too limited and the cost of light source is relatively high. Electrocatalytic degradation is time-saving but energy-intensive, and operational difficulty brings a barrier to industrialization. Catalytic wet oxidation (CWO) is highly effective and easily modified, but the performance and stability of catalysts are still very moderate. Following this, the selection and application of different methods regarding the requirement of actual environment are analyzed. Finally, a perspective on the opportunities and development for efficient m-cresol removal method is given.

Preparation of catalyst of cobalt‐ and/or iron‐doped strontium zirconate and its performance in removal of m‐cresol using ozone as oxidant

“…Wastewater containing m-cresol has become a global water environmental problem because its degradation is difficult, and it is highly toxic to plants, animals, and humans. [1][2][3][4] Therefore, it is extremely important to seek an efficient method for treating m-cresol. Currently, there are three types of removal technologies for m-cresol: physical, biological, and chemical methods.…”

“…2 Physical methods (adsorption, extraction, and ion exchange) can only concentrate m-cresol in wastewater and cannot completely eliminate it, usually requiring further operations. 2 Biological methods (mainly activated sludge methods) are rarely used in practice because microbial degradation of organic compounds typically requires a longer residence time. Besides, due to the poor biodegradability and strong toxicity of m-cresol, its removal rate in wastewater by biological treatment is limited.…”

“…Wastewater containing m ‐cresol has become a global water environmental problem because its degradation is difficult, and it is highly toxic to plants, animals, and humans 1‐4 . Therefore, it is extremely important to seek an efficient method for treating m ‐cresol.…”

“…Therefore, it is extremely important to seek an efficient method for treating m ‐cresol. Currently, there are three types of removal technologies for m ‐cresol: physical, biological, and chemical methods 2 . Physical methods (adsorption, extraction, and ion exchange) can only concentrate m ‐cresol in wastewater and cannot completely eliminate it, usually requiring further operations 2 .…”

“…Currently, there are three types of removal technologies for m ‐cresol: physical, biological, and chemical methods 2 . Physical methods (adsorption, extraction, and ion exchange) can only concentrate m ‐cresol in wastewater and cannot completely eliminate it, usually requiring further operations 2 . Biological methods (mainly activated sludge methods) are rarely used in practice because microbial degradation of organic compounds typically requires a longer residence time.…”