Pharmaceuticals of Emerging Concern in Aquatic Systems: Chemistry, Occurrence, Effects, and Removal Methods

Abstract

In the last few decades, pharmaceuticals, credited with saving millions of lives, have emerged as a new class of environmental contaminant. These compounds can have both chronic and acute harmful effects on natural flora and fauna. The presence of pharmaceutical contaminants in ground waters, surface waters (lakes, rivers, and streams), sea water, wastewater treatment plants (influents and effluents), soils, and sludges has been well doccumented. A range of methods including oxidation, photolysis, UV-degradation, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, and adsorption has been used for their remediation from aqueous systems. Many methods have been commercially limited by toxic sludge generation, incomplete removal, high capital and operating costs, and the need for skilled operating and maintenance personnel. Adsorption technologies are a low-cost alternative, easily used in developing countries where there is a dearth of advanced technologies, skilled personnel, and available capital, and adsorption appears to be the most broadly feasible pharmaceutical removal method. Adsorption remediation methods are easily integrated with wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Herein, we have reviewed the literature (1990–2018) illustrating the rising environmental pharmaceutical contamination concerns as well as remediation efforts emphasizing adsorption.

Aqueous carbofuran removal using slow pyrolyzed sugarcane bagasse biochar: equilibrium and fixed-bed studies

“…The application of biochar in the removal of inorganic and organic contaminants is gaining attention. 32,33 Biochar provides a sustainable option as it possesses the characteristics, including high surface area and adsorbate recovery and regeneration of the exhausted biochar, of activated carbon. 34 Fast pyrolyzed 35 biochar, a by-product obtained during bio-oil production, has also been used for contaminant removal.…”

Degradation of Sulfamethoxazole Using Iron-Doped Titania and Simulated Solar Radiation

“…Unfortunately, the production of new drugs has been accompanied by their misuse, resulting in a large number of pharmaceutical compounds being detected in environmental samples. Indeed, many studies indicate the detection of pharmaceuticals in both wastewater treatment plants, as well as surface and groundwater [3][4][5][6]. For example, sulfamethoxazole (SMX), a widely used sulfonamide antibiotic, has been detected at concentrations of up to 1.1 µg/L in surface water [7,8] and up to 2.8 µg/L in wastewater treatment plants [9].…”

Simulation-based evaluation of zeolite adsorbents for the removal of emerging contaminants

“…Currently, oxidation and advanced oxidation processes, membrane filtration, and adsorption-based processes are seen as the most promising advanced treatment options, with each technology having advantages and drawbacks. 7,9,[13][14][15][16][17] In the field of adsorption-based removal of emerging contaminants, activated carbons (ACs) and related carbonbased materials constitute the most widely studied class of adsorbents, 13,[16][17][18][19] but several groups of silica-based materials have also been proposed, 17,20 among them clay minerals, 16,[21][22][23] mesoporous silicas, 24,25 natural zeolites, 21,26,27 and synthetic hydrophobic high-silica zeolites. 28 The first systematic study of highly siliceous zeolites targeting this application was reported in 2009 by Rossner et al, who investigated mordenite (MOR topology 29 ) and zeolite Y (FAU topology) for the adsorption of 25 organic contaminants from spiked lake water.…”