A review of methods for the removal of penicillins from water. (February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ighalo, Joshua O.; Igwegbe, Chinenye Adaobi; Aniagor, Chukwunonso O.; Oba, Stephen N.
• Is Part Of: Journal of water process engineering. Volume 39(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-02
• Subjects: AC Activated carbon -- AMX Amoxicillin -- AOPs Advanced oxidation process -- BCOT Biological contact oxidation tank -- BLAs β-Lactams -- BOD Biochemical oxygen demand -- CASS Cyclic activated sludge system -- CNT Carbon nanotubes -- COD Chemical oxygen demand -- CW Constructed wetlands -- ECs Emerging contaminants -- ED Electrodialysis -- EGSB Expanded granular sludge bed -- FT Fenton process -- HPLC High performance liquid column -- HRT Hydraulic residence time -- LOD Limit of detection -- LED Light emitting diode -- MF Microfiltration -- MOFs Metal-organic frameworks -- NF Nanofiltration -- NHAR Novel micro-aerobic hydrolysis acidification reactor -- NOM Natural organic matter -- NPs Nanoparticles -- PDS Peroxydisulfate -- PEN Penicillin -- PhACs Pharmaceutically active compounds -- PMS Peroxymonosulfate -- PSSMA Poly (4-styrenesulfonic acid-comaleic) acid -- RO Reverse osmosis -- TOC Total organic carbon -- UASB Up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket -- US Ultrasonic irradiation -- UV Ultraviolet irradiation -- VLR Volumetric loading rate -- WWTPs Wastewater treatment plants; Amoxicillin -- Adsorption -- Penicillin -- Membrane -- Advanced oxidation processes; Water-supply engineering -- Periodicals; Saline water conversion -- Periodicals; Seawater -- Distillation -- Periodicals; Sanitary engineering -- Periodicals; Sewage -- Purification -- Periodicals; 627
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2020.101886
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-7144

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Penicillins (PENs) are antibiotics that are quite recalcitrant in the aqueous environment. Separation, degradation and biological processes were reviewed for PENs removal. Except for microfiltration and electrocoagulation, other processes were effective. Knowledge gaps and future perspectives were also discussed. There has been research progress on the subject but still much work to be done. Abstract: Penicillins (PENs) are β-lactam antibiotics with significant environmental toxicology. This review aimed to synthesise the research efforts on the removal of PENs via a variety of separation, degradation and biological processes. It was observed that isotropic microporous microfiltration membranes are not effective for rejecting PENs, due to their large uniform pore size distribution. Researchers favoured the application of Nanofiltration membrane and adsorption as separation technologies. Carbon-based adsorbents were the most efficient class of adsorbents for PENs removal from water. Lewis acid-base interactions, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic attraction and π – π interactions were the main adsorption mechanisms. Generally, the ultraviolet irradiation assisted-advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) and the Fenton-like processes outperformed the electrochemical and ultrasonic assisted-AOPs for PENs degradation. AOPs must be incorporated with other methods of treatment to minimise potential costs in terms of energy, time, equipment, and chemicals. For biological processes for PENs removal, anaerobic treatment processes were observed to be more efficient for the removal of PENs than aerobic processes. With the exception of microfiltration and electrocoagulation, most other processes were found to be effective for the removal of PENs from water, albeit with some disadvantages. From the review, it can be surmised that there has been great research progress on the subject and many new findings have been obtained in recent times though there is still much work to be done.