Coupled advanced oxidation process systems for enhanced degradation of antibiotics: a review

The escalating discharge of antibiotics into aquatic ecosystems drives the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes, necessitating advanced remediation strategies. However, individual advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) often fail to meet practical requirements. This review first provides a comparative analysis of six conventional AOPs: electrochemical oxidation, persulfate oxidation, sonochemical oxidation, photochemical oxidation, ozone oxidation, and Fenton oxidation. Subsequently, it critically assesses recent progress in coupled and hybrid AOPs to overcome limitations such as incomplete mineralization, energy inefficiency, and secondary pollution. The study classifies coupled systems into five categories including Fenton-based synergistic systems, energy-field-assisted AOPs, bio-integrated AOP systems, physicochemical process-coupled AOPs, and other coupled systems and provides a comparative analysis. Recent advances in process optimization, material selection, reactor design, and synergistic mechanisms are highlighted, underscoring the efficacy of these integrated approaches in degrading diverse antibiotics. Finally, promising strategies are proposed to accelerate mechanism innovation and system integration, offering guidance for developing next-generation, efficient, and sustainable coupled AOP technologies.