The occurrence and fate of antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in water treatment processes: A review

The Effect of Competing Ions on the Sorption of Amoxicillin, Ciprofloxacin, and Sulfamethoxazole on Chitosan-Carbon Nanotube Hydrogel Beads

“…Sadly, there has been a noticeable global increase in the consumption of antibiotics of 65% between year 2000 and 2015 from 21.1 to 34.8 billion defined daily dose, while the antibiotic consumption rate increase has been reported to move from 11.3 to 15.7 daily dose per 1000 inhabitants per day as elucidated by Manjunath, et al [1] and Klein, et al [3]. Due to the increase in the consumption rate of antibiotics, they have been detected in water bodies at minute concentrations ranging from ng/L to µg/L [2]. The occurrence of antibiotics in water receiving bodies is ascribed to human secretion through urine and faeces, from original compounds, as its metabolites and/or as conjugates glucuronic and sulfuric acid, as well as the use of animal manure (i.e., mixture of faeces, urine and bedding material) [2,4,5].…”

“…Recently, there has been a significant increase in the use of antibiotics for human consumption and agricultural use particularly in poultry farming, animal husbandry, beekeeping, aquaculture as well as livestock as growth promoters [1,2]. The comprehensive use of antibiotics can be ascribed to their ability to minimize the burden of common infectious diseases qualifying them to be crucial for medical interventions as elucidated by Manjunath, et al [1].…”

“…Due to the increase in the consumption rate of antibiotics, they have been detected in water bodies at minute concentrations ranging from ng/L to µg/L [2]. The occurrence of antibiotics in water receiving bodies is ascribed to human secretion through urine and faeces, from original compounds, as its metabolites and/or as conjugates glucuronic and sulfuric acid, as well as the use of animal manure (i.e., mixture of faeces, urine and bedding material) [2,4,5]. It is worth noting that approximately 50 -90 percent of antibiotics administered by humans or animals are excreted via urine and faeces as a mixture of the parent compound as well as in its metabolite form [5], which are then sent into wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) as urban wastewater.…”

Simultaneous Sorption of Ciprofloxacin and Amoxicillin on Chitosan Composites from Aqueous Solutions: Kinetics and Isotherms

“…PCs are characterised with peculiar physico-chemical properties such as long half-life, hydrophilic nature, high polarity, persistence and low volatility which makes their complete remediation by wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to be difficult compared to conventional contaminants i.e., solids, biological nutrients, chemical oxygen demand (COD), as well as biological oxygen demand (BOD) [2]. According to Yin, et al [3], the incomplete remediation of PCs by conventional WWTPs is ascribed to their transformation into metabolites which have been detected in WWTP effluent streams and in drinking water [4]. As such, there is a need to develop eco-friendly treatment technologies post conventional WWTPs aimed at the eradication of PCs and their metabolites from aqueous environments.…”

“…Reverse osmosis and pressure driven membrane processes have been successfully used for water purification at a tertiary stage, however, low permeation flux, inadequate selectivity and membrane durability, membrane fouling, and high equipment and operating cost have rendered the upscaling of these Simultaneous Sorption of Ciprofloxacin and Amoxicillin on Chitosan Composites from Aqueous Solutions: Kinetics and Isotherms Siphesihle Mangena Khumalo 1 , Babatunde Femi Bakare 2 , and Sudesh Rathilal 3 processes uneconomic [13]. From the reviewed literature by Khumalo, et al [4] it is apparent that PCs can be removed by biological processes from aqueous environments, however, biological processes are associated with sludge generation subsequently increasing operational costs as well as high hydraulic retention time compared to other wastewater treatment process such as solid-liquid adsorption. Solid-liquid adsorption using activated carbon has demonstrated to be a successful technology for PC remediation from wastewater streams, however, the high cost of activated carbon has rendered this technology expensive to upscale [14].…”