Book Title: Advanced Studies in Multidisciplinary Research and Innovation (ASMRI)
Chief Editors: Dr. Jagdish Kumar Sahu and Dr. Krishna Ashutoshbhai Vyas
Associate Editors: Dr. N. Ramesh Chandra Srikanth and Dr. Lourdu Vesna J
Co-Editors: Dr. Aarti Sharma and Dr. Pushpa Mamoria
ISBN: 978-93-7183-010-2
Chapter: 25
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59646/745/25
Author: Dr. Narendra Ramdas Kamble
Abstract
Pharmaceutical residues in aquatic systems have become a new and rising environmental concern because of the growing use, and improper disposal, of pharmaceuticals throughout the world. Even low levels of these compounds have been detected in surface water, groundwater and drinking water supplies, which has led to concerns about the sustainability of these supplies in the long term. The present research work aims to review photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceutical contaminants by advanced semiconductor photocatalysts as an effective sustainable treatment method in water. The study examines the efficiency of photocatalysis to degrade some of the most common pharmaceutical drugs including antibiotics, analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs in controlled light irradiation conditions. A systematic approach is taken, including experimental analysis of degradation rates and an evaluation of the factors that influence the degradation rates such as type of catalyst, pH level, concentration of pollutants and intensity of light. The results show that the photocatalytic processes can greatly promote the degradation of the pharmaceutical residues, and the photocatalysts based on titanium dioxide (TiO₂) are more efficient under UV illumination. But recombination of electron-hole pairs and low performance under visible light are still the major challenges. The research also focuses on the recent developments of doped and composite photocatalysts to enhance the visible-light activity and degradation efficiency. In addition, the study covers the environmental consequences of drug pollution such as environmental toxicity and hazards to human health in water reuse systems. The paper highlights the need to fine-tune the photocatalytic system for the large-scale water treatment application and incorporate it into the current wastewater treatment infrastructure. Overall, the study demonstrates that photocatalytic degradation offers a promising, eco-friendly, and cost-effective solution for mitigating pharmaceutical pollution in aquatic environments, contributing to sustainable water management strategies and environmental protection efforts. Hence, further studies are recommended to improve the stability and scale-up potential of catalyst for practical applications.
Keywords: Photocatalysis, pharmaceutical residues, aquatic systems, wastewater treatment, TiO₂, environmental remediation, advanced oxidation processes, water pollution, sustainable treatment, degradation efficiency.