Recent advances in remediating nonylphenol in soils and sediments: Opportunities and scope for the future research.

Nonylphenol (NP) has been categorized as a persistent organic pollutant and is ranked among the top-priority contaminants by the United Nations Environment Programme. This widely distributed, persistent endocrine-disrupting chemical poses significant risks to ecosystems and human health. While extensive research has explored its occurrence and remediation in wastewater, comparatively fewer studies have examined its fate and behavior in soil and sediments. This review aims to provide a systematic summary of the research progress, environmental behavior, and remediation techniques of NP in soil and sediment. Various remediation approaches have been developed, including physicochemical, microbial, and phytoremediation methods, with chemical and microbial approaches receiving the most attention. Recent advances in chemical remediation have led to the development of innovative technologies such as biochar-based advanced oxidation processes. However, significant challenges and knowledge gaps persist in this area. To address these limitations, future research should focus on the isomer-specific degradation mechanisms, the isolation of anaerobic, high-efficiency NP-degrading microorganisms, and the development of integrated, cross-disciplinary remediation technologies to improve removal efficiency. Effective implementation of these strategies will be essential in mitigating the environmental and health risks associated with NP contamination.