Pharmaceutical Removal with Photocatalytically Active Nanocomposite Membranes

The advancement of pharmaceutical science has resulted in the development of numerous tailor-made compounds, i.e., pharmaceuticals, tuned for specific drug targets. These compounds are often characterized by their low biodegradability and are commonly excreted to a certain extent unchanged from the...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Marin Popović, Silvia Morović, Marin Kovačić, Krešimir Košutić
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Membranes
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/14/11/239
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Summary:The advancement of pharmaceutical science has resulted in the development of numerous tailor-made compounds, i.e., pharmaceuticals, tuned for specific drug targets. These compounds are often characterized by their low biodegradability and are commonly excreted to a certain extent unchanged from the human body. Due to their low biodegradability, these compounds represent a significant challenge to wastewater treatment plants. Often, these compounds end up in effluents in the environment. With the advancement of membrane technologies and advanced oxidation processes, photocatalysis in particular, a synergistic approach between the two was recognized and embraced. These hybrid advanced water treatment processes are the focus of this review, specifically the removal of pharmaceuticals from water using a combination of a photocatalyst and pressure membrane process, such as reverse osmosis or nanofiltration employing photocatalytic nanocomposite membranes.
ISSN:2077-0375