Abstract: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) represent a class of persistent organic pollutants that have garnered significant scientific attention owing to their carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic properties, along with their environmental persistence. This review systematically examines the classification, structural characteristics, and environmental impacts of PAHs, while comprehensively evaluating current remediation approaches. Adsorption technology emerges as particularly promising due to its environmental compatibility, high efficiency, and sustainability advantages. We critically analyze recent developments in adsorbent materials for PAH removal, discussing their respective merits and limitations through comparative assessment. Furthermore, this review provides perspectives on future research directions in this field. From an educational standpoint, we elucidate how PAH adsorption studies can enrich university chemistry curricula by bridging fundamental concepts with contemporary environmental applications.

Key words: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Removal methods, Adsorption materials, University courses