Adsorbents and removal strategies of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs from contaminated water bodies

Publication date: Available online 8 May 2019Source: Journal of Environmental Chemical EngineeringAuthor(s): Nomchenge Yamkelani Mlunguza, Somandla Ncube, Precious Nokwethemba Mahlambi, Luke Chimuka, Lawrence Mzukisi MadikizelaAbstractIn the past few decades, there has been a rapid growth in the number of published articles that have focused on the environmental monitoring of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This is due to their extensive usage for the treatment of various diseases such as arthritis, musculo-skeletal pain and other various acute pains, because of their availability over the counter without a medical prescription. NSAIDs consumption is followed by excretion through fecal matter and urine which increases their concentration in the aquatic environment. Review articles focusing on the occurrence, fate, and removal of pharmaceuticals in the water environment have been reported. This review focusses on adsorbents and various ways of NSAIDs reduction in the environment that include activated carbon, ligninolytic enzymes, graphene-based adsorbents, molecularly imprinted polymers, electrochemical methods, sonochemical processes and photocatalytic degradation. The applicability of each adsorbent in removing NSAIDs from environmental surface water are deliberated in this review. Generally, it is observed that many adsorbents and processes are yet to be investigated for removal of NSAIDs in the large scale such as wastewater treatment plants. Other remedia...
Source: Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering - Category: Chemistry Source Type: research