Abstract

Water contamination by emerging pollutants-pharmaceuticals, microplastics, nitrates and endocrine disruptors-represents one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our era. Conventional water treatment systems were not designed to handle these complex compounds, which persist in aquatic ecosystems even at trace concentrations with documented biological effects. This opinion article argues that catalytic and Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs), particularly those employing non-noble bimetallic catalysts, photo electrocatalysis and engineered nanomaterials, are no longer experimental curiosities but technologically mature approaches ready for broader deployment. Drawing on over two decades of research, we discuss the strategic value of catalyst design, selectivity control and process intensification, and call for stronger bridges between fundamental research and environmental policy.

Keywords:Advanced oxidation processes; Bimetallic catalysts; Emerging contaminants; Microplastics; Water treatment; Green hydrogen; Photo electrocatalysis