Degradation kinetics and mechanism of chlorophenols by graphene-based photocatalysts: A comprehensive review

Global water shortages are worsening due to industrialization, population growth, climate change, raising ecological and public health concerns. Chlorophenols (CPs), which are commonly employed in petrochemical, pharmaceutical, dye, paper, plastic, and pesticide industries, are persistent organic pollutants renowned for their toxicity, stability, and resistance to biodegradation. Their complete removal requires advanced treatment procedures that go beyond traditional physicochemical methods, which often generate secondary waste. Because of graphene's high surface area, electron mobility, variable functionality, and outstanding adsorption ability, graphene-based photocatalysts present a feasible route for CPs degradation. This review article outlines graphene's physical features, its synthetic routes, and essential characterization techniques. It also explains CPs degradation mechanisms, kinetics, and the impact of operational parameters like pH, catalyst dosage, temperature, and pollutant loading. Overall, this study emphasizes recent advances and offers insights into creating high-performance graphene-based systems for environmental remediation.