Semiconductor based photocatalysts for detoxification of emerging pharmaceutical pollutants from aquatic systems: A critical review

The presence of emerging pharmaceutical pollutants at low concentration levels in the surface and ground water has caused a potential threat to the marine and human lives. The emerging pharmaceutical pollutants generally include analgesics and anti-inflammatories, lipid-lowering drugs, antiepileptics, antibiotics, and β-blockers compounds. In recent years, various processes have been developed and advanced oxidation process is the most effective for decontamination of emerging pharmaceutical pollutants till date. Semiconductor based photocatalysis technology has recently received a great interest for the removal of new emerging pharmaceutical pollutants. This review article highlights the removal of emerging pharmaceutical pollutants especially through photocatalysis as well as recent progress using different nanostructures. Additional focus has been given over fundamental key dynamics processes of nanomaterials and degradation pathways of emerging pharmaceutical pollutants. Finally, this review concludes with the perspectives and outlook over future developments in photocatalysis technology for the degradation of emerging pharmaceutical pollutants leading to a solution for real-world in near future.