Photocatalysis for Environmental Remediation: Degradation of Pharmaceutical Pollutants
Keywords:
Heterojunctions; Photocatalysis; Pharmaceutical pollutants; Semiconductor; Water treatmentAbstract
Pharmaceuticals, used in human and veterinary medicine, pose a significant environmental and health threat due to their ecotoxicity and microbial resistance. Conventional treatment methods are ineffective, leading to research on advanced oxidation processes like visible-light-assisted semiconductor photocatalysis. This technology, which can use solar energy as a clean and sustainable light source, has significant potential for efficient, low-cost, and green remediation. This review paper aims to provide an overview of pharmaceutical pollution in aquatic environments, discussing its effects, sources, and mitigation strategies. It also reviews heterogeneous photocatalysis technology, which has been extensively studied and applied in wastewater treatment for the remediation of persistent pollutants like pharmaceuticals. The review paper also identifies barriers and gaps that need to be resolved in the near future.