Photocatalytic Degradation of Pharmaceutically Active Compounds with Nano-TiO2: Recent Advances and Future Trends

Abstract

As an emerging contaminant in water environments, pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) can be traced in pharmaceuticals, domestic wastewater and waste disposal, and biological metabolism etc. However, there are technical deficiencies in terms of removing PhACs in traditional wastewater treatment plants. Photocatalytic degradation of PhACs with nano-TiO2has proved to be an effective means to solve these problems, but there are two intrinsic drawbacks: low visible-light utilization and easily-recombined electron-holes. The paper introduces five modification methods of nano-TiO2: metal ion doping, non-metal doping, noble metal deposition, composite of semiconductor materials and immobilization. Then, the literature review summarizes the recent advances and breakthroughs made in nano-TiO2for PhACs’ removal, with an emphasis on the modifications for enhancing the efficiency of treatment methods using nano-TiO2. Finally, it proposes a number of possible further research orientations.