Titanium dioxide photocatalysis for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment
Heterogeneous photocatalysis using the semiconductor titanium dioxide (TiO2) has proven to be a promising treatment technology for water purification. The effectiveness of this oxidation technology for the destruction of pharmaceuticals has also been demonstrated in numerous studies. This revie...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer International Publishing
2013
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/9671/ http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/9671/1/Titanium%20dioxide%20photocatalysis%20for%20pharmaceutical%20wastewater%20%28abstract%29.pdf |
| Summary: | Heterogeneous photocatalysis using the semiconductor
titanium dioxide (TiO2) has proven to be a
promising treatment technology for water purification. The
effectiveness of this oxidation technology for the destruction
of pharmaceuticals has also been demonstrated in
numerous studies. This review highlights recent research
on TiO2 photocatalytic treatment applied to the removal of
selected pharmaceuticals. The discussions are tailored
based on the therapeutic drug classes as the kinetics and
mechanistic aspects are compound dependent. These classes
of pharmaceuticals were chosen because of their
environmental prevalence and potential adverse effects.
Optimal operational conditions and degradation pathways
vary with different pharmaceutical compounds. The main
conclusion is that the use of TiO2 photocatalysis can be
considered a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical wastewater
treatment methodology. Further studies are, however,
required to optimize the operating conditions for maximum
degradation of multiple pharmaceuticals in wastewater
under realistic conditions and on an industrial scale. |
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