Emerging　micropollutants　(MPs)　in　water　present　growing　environmental　concerns,　drawing　considerable　attention　in　recent　years.　Of　the　numerous　advanced　oxidation　processes　(AOPs)　for　MPs　removal,　the　approach　based　on　peracetic　acid　(PAA)　has　especially　attracted　interest　from　both　the　academic　and　industrial　realms.　This　comprehensive　review　systematically　investigates　the　activation　of　PAA　for　MPs　degradation　using　heterogeneous　catalysts.　The　discussion　starts　with　an　overview　of　the　fundamental　aspects　of　PAA,　along　with　the　research　background　and　prospects　of　PAA-AOPs.　Subsequently,　the　generation　and　detection　methods　of　organic　radical　(R-O[rad])　and　non-organic　radical　(non-R-O[rad])　pathways　in　heterogeneous　catalyst/PAA　systems　are　discussed.　Furthermore,　the　activation　mechanisms　of　metal-　and　carbon-based　catalysts　are　extensively　revealed.　After　that,　the　influencing　factors　that　significantly　affect　the　performance　of　heterogeneous　catalyst/PAA　systems　are　proposed.　Additionally,　the　application　of　density　functional　theory　(DFT)　calculation　associated　with　heterogeneous　catalyst/PAA　systems　is　summarized.　Finally,　the　current　limitations　and　future　research　directions　of　heterogeneous　catalyst/PAA　systems　are　taken　over.　This　review　strives　to　enhance　the　comprehension　of　the　heterogeneous　catalyst-activated　PAA　systems　in　removal　of　MPs,　while　offering　innovative　perspectives　and　outlining　future　research　avenues　regarding　the　applications　of　these　systems.　©　2023　Elsevier　B.V.