Low-Carbon Technologies to Remove Organic Micropollutants from Wastewater: A Focus on Pharmaceuticals

Abstract

Pharmaceutical residues are of environmental concern since they are found in several environmental compartments, including surface, ground and waste waters. However, the effect of pharmaceuticals on ecosystems is still under investigation. To date, the removal of these micropollutants by conventional treatment plants is generally ineffective, in addition to producing a considerable carbon footprint. In this sense, to achieve the current zero-pollution ambition, a reduction in the negative impacts of chemical substances such as pharmaceuticals on the environment must be aligned with initiatives such as the European Ecological Compact, Environment Action Programme, and Circular Economy Action Plan, among others. This review provides insight into the key drivers for changing approaches, technologies, and governance of water in Europe (Germany, Switzerland, and the UK), including improving wastewater treatment in sewage treatment plants for the removal of pharmaceuticals and their carbon footprint. In addition, an overview of emerging low-carbon technologies (e.g., constructed wetlands, anaerobic membrane bioreactors, and enzymes) for the removal of pharmaceuticals in sewage treatment works is provided. In general, the removal efficiency of pharmaceuticals could be achieved up to ca. 100% in wastewater, with the exception of highly recalcitrant pharmaceuticals such as carbamazepine (removal <60%). These technologies have the potential to help reduce the carbon footprint of wastewater treatment, which can therefore contribute to the achievement of the Europe Union’s objective of being carbon neutral by 2050.

Wastewater Management in Agriculture

“…According to [103], another method of eliminating pharmaceutical products from wastewater is through the use of activated carbon and ozonation. The use of anaerobic membrane bioreactors and enzymes can help to eliminate organic micropollutants from wastewater with low costs and high efficiency.…”

“…The use of anaerobic membrane bioreactors and enzymes can help to eliminate organic micropollutants from wastewater with low costs and high efficiency. In the future, it is recommended to use some economical and environmentally friendly technologies for the elimination of organic micropollutants from wastewater, such as the use of anaerobic membrane bioreactors, constructed wetlands, and different wetlands that, through processes such as pyrolysis, sorption, biodegradation, photolysis, and volatilization, can remove these organic micropollutants with an efficiency between 54 and 98%; lastly, the use of enzymes can help with low costs and high efficiency [103]. According to [104], the toxicity of water polluted with organic micropollutants was analyzed by bioanalytical tests, being applied seven wastewater treatment barriers: the source control; the wastewater treatment plant, the application of the microfiltration treatment, reverse osmosis treatment, and advanced oxidation treatment, natural environment in a tank and drinking water treatment plant (Figure 4).…”

Insights into the removal of microplastics and microfibres by Advanced Oxidation Processes

“…For example, there is a gap between treatment technologies to remove MPs and their impacts on carbon emissions. In addition, different factors are involved in the sustainability of the processes, such as investment, operation conditions, energy consumption, generation of byproducts and their toxicity (Chen et al, 2020;Krahnstöver et al, 2022). Moreover, reviews addressing the degradation of MPs using AOPs focusing on the formation of by-products and the sorption potential between oxidized plastic particles and other micro-pollutants are urgently needed.…”