Advancements in electrochemical technologies for the removal of fluoroquinolone antibiotics in wastewater: A review

In recent times, the need to make water safer and cleaner through the elimination of recalcitrant pharmaceutical res-idues has been the aim of many studies. Fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, enrofloxacin, and levofloxacin are among the commonly detected pharmaceuticals in wastewater. Since the presence of these phar-maceuticals in water bodies poses serious risks to living organisms, it is vital to adopt effective wastewater treatment techniques for their complete removal. Electrochemical technologies such as photoelectrocatalysis, electro-Fenton, electrocoagulation, and electrochemical oxidation have been established as techniques capable of the complete re-moval of organics including pharmaceuticals from wastewater. Hence, this review presents discussions on the recent progress (literature within 2018-2022) in the applications of common electrochemical processes for the degradation of fluoroquinolone antibiotics from wastewater. The fundamentals of these processes are highlighted while the results obtained using the processes are critically discussed. Furthermore, the inherent advantages and limitations of these processes in the mineralization of fluoroquinolone antibiotics are clearly emphasized. Additionally, appropriate rec-ommendations are made toward improving electrochemical technologies for the complete removal of these pharmaceuticals with minimal energy consumption. Therefore, this review will serve as a bedrock for future re-searchers concerned with wastewater treatments to make informed decisions in the selection of suitable electrochem-ical techniques for the removal of pharmaceuticals from wastewater.

Automated summary

In recent years, there has been a focus on making water safer and cleaner by eliminating pharmaceutical residues, particularly fluoroquinolone antibiotics, from wastewater. Electrochemical technologies, such as photoelectrocatalysis, electro-Fenton, electrocoagulation, and electrochemical oxidation, have been found to be effective in removing these pharmaceuticals from wastewater. This review discusses the recent progress in the application of these electrochemical processes for the degradation of fluoroquinolone antibiotics, highlighting their fundamentals, results, advantages, limitations, and recommendations for future improvements. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers in the selection of suitable electrochemical techniques for pharmaceutical removal from wastewater.