Removal of pharmaceutical contaminants from aqueous medium: A state-of-the-art review based on paracetamol

Abstract

The usage of pharmaceutical products is becoming increasingly extensive because of the emerging ailments. Analgesic and antipyretic drugs are ranked the most used drugs worldwide. Unused or expired analgesic and antipyretic drugs are being disposed into aquatic environment which could lead to water pollution bringing adverse impacts to the living organisms which in the end cause fatality. Paracetamol, as one of the most common drug used for analgesic and antipyretic purposes to treat fever and relieve pain, was found to have much higher concentration in aquatic stream and thus need to be removed efficiently. Various technologies for paracetamol removal have been established to solve this thorny issue. This study first gives reader understanding regarding some detrimental effects of paracetamol waste towards environmental and mankind with its current disposal level and limit. Then it provides comprehensive review on the technologies to remove paracetamol effectively from aqueous stream, such as advanced oxidation process, biodegradation, adsorption, and membrane separation, which in turn inspires reader for more innovation. This review is also wrapped up with the future challenges and prospects of these techniques. By comparing all advantages and disadvantages of different technologies, advanced oxidation process is then recommended as the most practically feasible method.