A comparative review on the mitigating of Metronidazole residues in aqueous media using various physio-chemical technologies

Abstract

In the last few decades, pharmaceuticals have emerged as a new class of serious environmental pollutants. The presence of these emerging contaminants even in minimal amounts ( micro to nanograms) has side effects and they can cause chronic toxicity to health and the environment. Also, the presence of pharmaceutical contaminants in water resources leads to significant antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Hence, the removal of antibiotics is essential from water resources. So far, a wide range of methods including adsorption, photodegradation, oxidation, photolysis, micro/nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis have been used to remove pharmaceutical contaminants from water systems. In this article, the research related to the processes based on the removal of metronidazole antibiotics including adsorption (Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs), Magnetic nanocomposites, Magnetic molecularly imprinted (MIP), Metal-organic frameworks), filtration, advanced oxidation processes ( Photocatalytic process, Electrochemical advanced oxidation processes, Sonolysis and sonocatalysis) and aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) from water and wastewater have been collected. The results have revealed that advanced oxidation processes especially the photocatalytic and sonolysis processes have high potential in removing MNZ (more than 90%).