Pharmaceutical contaminants: Ecotoxicological aspects and recent advances in oxidation technologies for their removal in aqueous matrices

Author(s)

Santos, Gessica O. S. ; Goulart, Lorena A. ; Cordeiro-Junior, Paulo J. M. ; Sanchez-Montes, Isaac ; Lanza, Marcos R., V

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING; v. 10, n. 6, p. 31-pg., 2022-11-16.

Abstract

The presence of pharmaceutical contaminants in aquatic environments has become an issue of huge concern worldwide due to their potential hazardous effects on the aquatic ecosystem, as well as on the health of humans. Bearing that in mind, in the last years we have seen an intense development of novel highly efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable treatment techniques for the degradation of these contaminants. Here, we present a comprehensive literature review on studies conducted over the past five years on pharmaceutical focusing on their ecotoxicological effects, as well as on the research efforts devoted to the development and application of sustainable technologies for the detoxification of a wide range of waters contaminated with these compounds. With these developments, this review look at the future perspectives on the subject and the constraints and challenges faced by researchers in terms of devising highly innovative techniques which can effectively contribute toward enhancing the efficiency of the treatment. According to the review, just a few studies worked in realistic scenarios (23.4%) including real water and contaminant concentrations close to levels detected in the environment. Regarding scale-up considerations, only 6% of studies applied the techniques on a large scale. The importance of economic considerations in the proposed techniques is also discussed in the following directions: (i) use of renewable energy sources; (ii) development of more cost-effective hybrid processes and (iii) simulta-neous removal of other toxic inorganic species, by-products and microorganisms. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/08760-2 - Heterojunction of NiO/ZnO and CuO/ZnO applied at the photo electrodegradation of trimethoprim and levofloxacin
• Grantee: Lorena Athie Goulart
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 17/10118-0 - Study and application of electrochemical technology for the analysis and degradation of endocrine interferents: materials, sensors, processes and scientific dissemination
• Grantee: Marcos Roberto de Vasconcelos Lanza
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 20/02743-4 - Fe/RuO2-TiO2 films supported on carbon felt for norfloxacin degradation by heterogeneous electro-fenton process
• Grantee: Géssica de Oliveira Santiago Santos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 21/13314-0 - UV-based advanced oxidation processes for the treatment of complex real matrices: analytical, ecotoxicological and cytotoxicity evaluation
• Grantee: Isaac José Sánchez Montes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• FAPESP's process: 20/07351-7 - Advanced oxidation processes based on the in situ activation of oxidants via UVC and solar radiation for the simultaneous elimination of microcontaminants and pathogens
• Grantee: Isaac José Sánchez Montes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 16/19612-4 - Degradation of endocrine disruptors carbofuran, methylparaben and propylparaben via electrogenerated H2O2 and associated processes (electrogenerated H2O2/UV, electro-Fenton e photoelectro-Fenton)
• Grantee: Paulo Jorge Marques Cordeiro Junior
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 22/03386-6 - Treatment of VOCs by a combined absorption and heterogeneous electron-Fenton using iron-modified cathodes
• Grantee: Géssica de Oliveira Santiago Santos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor