Remediation of pharmaceuticals from contaminated water by molecularly imprinted polymers: a review

Abstract

The release of pharmaceuticals into the environment induces adverse effects on the metabolism of humans and other living species, calling for advanced remediation methods. Conventional removal methods are often non-selective and cause secondary contamination. These issues may be partly solved by the use of recently-developped adsorbents such as molecularly imprinted polymers. Here we review the synthesis and application of molecularly imprinted polymers for removing pharmaceuticals in water. Molecularly imprinted polymers are synthesized via several multiple-step polymerization methods. Molecularly imprinted polymers are potent adsorbents at the laboratory scale, yet their efficiency is limited by template leakage and polymer quality. Adsorption performance of multi-templated molecularly imprinted polymers depends on the design of wastewater treatment plants, pharmaceutical consumption patterns and the population serviced by these wastewater treatment plants.

Waves of pharmaceutical waste

“…Since then, numerous studies have reported their adverse effects and risks on environmental and public health. Pharmaceuticals constitute a notorious class of anthropogenic waste, often with high toxicities and persistence in the environment if disposed of inappropriately (Caban and Stepnowski 2021;Han 2022;Monisha 2022;Morin-Crini et al 2022;Zare et al 2022). At parts per trillion levels, those bioactive substances elicit undesired responses in aquatic or terrestrial biota, bioaccumulate and pose direct risks to humans through food and drinking water (Miège et al 2009;Nakada et al 2006;Velpandian et al 2018;Wee et al 2020).…”

Deep-Eutectic-Solvent-Based Mesoporous Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Purification of Gallic Acid from Camellia spp. Fruit Shells

“…They are obtained by using template molecules polymerized with functional monomers and cross-linkers. After the template molecules are removed, cavities matching the spatial configuration of the template molecules are formed to achieve highly selective recognition of target substances in complex samples [ 17 , 18 ].…”

A silanized magnetic amino-functionalized carbon nanotube-based multi-ion imprinted polymer for the selective aqueous decontamination of heavy metal ions

“…Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are synthetic entities encompassing precise cavities for an aimed molecule, and are obtained via monomer polymerization in the presence of a template. 19 Ion-imprinted polymers (IIPs) are comparable to molecular-imprinted polymers and have the capability to differentiate inorganic metal ions subsequent to imprinting and in addition possess all the properties of MIPs; metal ions are used as a template with suitable complex ligands as purposeful monomers. Subsequent to eliminating the template ions, the polymer constructs can selectively distinguish the template ions from other sample constituents due to the charge, coordination geometry, and size of the metal ions.…”