Application of graphene based materials for adsorption of pharmaceutical traces from water and wastewater- a review

Traces of pharmaceuticals have been classified as emerging pollutants due to their persistence in the aquatic ecosystem. There has been indiscriminate disposal of pharmaceutical waste from manufacturing processes, half used, expired antibiotics as a result of which, huge quantities of bacterial resistant antibiotic wastewater have been introduced into natural ecosystems. In addition, drugs that are not fully metabolized in the body may be excreted into the sewer system. Therefore, treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater is a global concern. A wide range of treatment methodologies have been developed to treat pharmaceutical wastewater viz., chemical oxidation, biodegradation, adsorption, liquid extraction, membrane techniques, etc. However, adsorption is a promising method for the removal of micropollutants because of its simple design, low-cost, high efficiency, etc. Research has shown that graphene materials can be used as photo-catalysts, adsorbents, and as disinfectants in water treatment. They are reported to be efficient agents against a wide variety of water pollutants, including (but not limited to) organic molecules, inorganic heavy metals, and water borne pathogenic micro-organisms. This review discusses the application of graphene materials in treating pharmaceutical wastewater and explains the mechanism of adsorption. A brief perspective on the future scope of work in the area has also been examined.