In　recent　years,　Iron-based　materials(IBMs)/Periodate(PI)　systems　have　gained　attention　in　the　treatment　of　water　environments　due　to　their　excellent　high　oxidizing　capacity,　high　stability,　and　strong　resistance　to　environmental　impacts.　This　work　provides　a　synthetical　overview　of　the　current　research　status　and　progress　of　IBM/PI　systems,　and　the　vital　role　of　Fe　species　is　emphasized.　The　IBMs　were　categorized　into　three　main　groups　by　the　different　substances　complexed　with　Fe:　iron-carbon　composites,　iron-metal/nonmetallic　composites,　and　iron　with　iron　oxides.　The　possible　catalytic　influences　of　the　aqueous　species　were　explored.　The　mechanistic　discussion　was　categorized　into　four　groups,　Fe0,　Fe(II),　Fe(IV),　and　Electron　transfer　pathway(ETP),　depending　on　the　valence　of　Fe　at　the　beginning.　Among　them,　Fe　(II)　is　the　most　important　valence　state　because　it　is　an　indispensable　valence　state　before　the　formation　of　Fe(IV),　and　Fe(II)　is　also　the　valence　state　that　can　activate　most　kinds　of　active　substances　in　PI.　Interestingly,　ETP-dominated　PI　activation　systems　tend　to　occur　in　iron-carbon　complexes,　and　carbon　materials　may　be　necessary　for　triggering　the　ETP.　In　addition,　the　applicable　state　of　IBMs/PI　systems　in　water　environments　was　explored　from　both　the　radical　and　non-radical　perspectives.　In　the　end,　the　deficiencies　and　improvements　of　the　current　IBMs/PI　systems　were　summarized.　Hoping　that　new　inspirations　can　be　provided　for　the　subsequent　IBMs/PI　systems　development.　©　2024　Elsevier　B.V.