From mineralization to low-carbon conversion: emerging paradigms in water decontamination

The low-carbon conversion of pollutants has emerged as a transformative strategy that bridges environmental remediation with green development, carrying profound implications for achieving carbon neutrality, advancing resource utilization, and promoting a sustainable future. Here, we introduce a conceptual paradigm centered on “carbon transfer”, which redefines conventional thinking by moving beyond the complete oxidation of organics into carbon dioxide (CO2). Within this paradigm, the traditional mineralization route is deconstructed into multiple value-driven pathways, including selective oxidation for high-value products, the targeted production of low-carbon small-molecule fuels, and pathways based on the direct oxidative transfer process (DOTP) and organic carbon transfer process (OCTP). This study systematically reviews the key reaction mechanisms and catalyst design strategies involved in each route, with a particular focus on selectivity control methods and scale-up potential, and further proposes forward-looking directions to provide a systematic theoretical foundation and practical technological roadmap for low-carbon wastewater treatment.