Emerging opportunities of BiOX in wastewater treatment

Enhanced wastewater treatment plays a pivotal role in preserving ecological equilibrium and ensuring human well-being. Traditional wastewater treatment methods face challenges in effectively removing emerging contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and microplastics. This has led to the exploration of alternative materials for wastewater treatment, and one such class of materials that have gained significant attention is bismuth oxyhalides (BiOX). This article aims to provide an overview of the emerging opportunities of BiOX in wastewater treatment. BiOX materials possess unique properties, including excellent photocatalytic activity, chemical stability, and low toxicity, making them promising candidates for various wastewater treatment applications. The paper emphasizes recent advancements in the synthesis and characterization of diverse BiOX nanostructures, including BiOCl, BiOBr, and BiOI and their performance in removing organic pollutants, heavy metals, and microorganisms from wastewater. The review also discusses the mechanisms underlying the photocatalytic activity of BiOX, including the generation of reactive oxygen species and the role of different crystal facets. Moreover, it explores strategies for enhancing the photocatalytic performance of BiOX through modifications such as doping, heterostructure formation, and cocatalyst loading. Furthermore, this paper addresses the challenges and limitations associated with BiOX-based wastewater treatment, including material stability, reusability, and cost-effectiveness. It also identifies future research directions and potential applications of BiOX in emerging fields such as wastewater treatment in resource-limited settings and the removal of emerging contaminants. In conclusion, BiOX materials present promising opportunities for advanced wastewater treatment due to their exceptional photocatalytic properties.