Metal-organic　frameworks　(MOFs)-based　materials　have　been　of　great　public　interest　in　persulfate　(PS)-based　catalytic　oxidation　for　wastewater　purification,　because　of　their　excellent　performance　and　selectiveness　in　organic　contaminants　(OCs)　removal　in　complex　water　environments.　The　formation,　fountainhead　and　reaction　mechanism　of　reactive　oxygen　species　(ROSs)　in　PS-based　catalytic　oxidation　are　crucial　for　understanding　the　principles　of　PS　activation　and　the　degradation　mechanism　of　OCs.　In　the　paper,　we　presented　the　quantitative　structure-activity　relationship　(QSAR)　of　MOFs-based　materials　for　PS　activation,　including　the　relationship　of　structure　and　removal　efficiency,　active　sites　and　ROSs　as　well　as　OCs.　In　various　MOFs-based　materials,　there　are　many　factors　will　affect　their　performances.　We　discussed　how　various　surface　modification　projects　affected　the　characteristics　of　MOFs-based　materials　used　in　PS　activation.　Moreover,　we　revealed　the　process　of　ROSs　generation　by　active　sites　and　the　oxidation　of　OCs　by　ROSs　from　the　micro　level.　At　the　end　of　this　review,　we　putted　forward　an　outlook　on　the　development　trends　and　faced　challenges　of　MOFs　for　PS-based　catalytic　oxidation.　Generally,　this　review　aims　to　clarify　the　formation　mechanisms　of　ROSs　via　the　active　sites　on　the　MOFs　and　the　reaction　mechanism　between　ROSs　and　OCs,　which　is　helpful　for　reader　to　better　understand　the　QSAR　in　various　MOFs/PS　systems.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd