Removal of antibiotics from wastewater using nanoparticles-based technology: a review

Abstract

AbstractWater is essential to support life processes on the planet earth. Industrialization, urbanization, and growing population significantly impacted the water quality due to chemicals pollution. Among chemicals contamination, antibiotics pollution degraded the freshwater quality and posed toxic effects to the environment. Nanotechnology is eco-friendly and is useful for the treatment of pollutants. The review summarizes different nanoparticles-based technologies alone or in combination with other compounds to remove antibiotics in wastewater. The influence of environmental factors i.e. temperature and pH on the removal efficiency of nanoparticles were also reviewed. The review indicated that nanoparticles in combination with metal oxides showed more efficiency > 80% than nanoparticles used alone < 60%, suggesting these methods are effective for removal of antibiotics. Laccase-HBT technology was efficient for tetracycline class of antibiotics, nano-Fe2O3 technology for penicillin class of antibiotics and nano graphene-oxide technology for fluoroquinolones class of antibiotics. Penicillin class of antibiotics removal efficiency by nanomaterials was more as compared to other classes. Zero valent iron nanoparticles performance was better in highly acidic conditions while zinc oxide nanoparticles was efficient in basic conditions. This review will help the researchers regarding knowledge depth of nanotechnology to treat antibiotics and the application of nanotechnology to treat contaminated wastewater.