A Review on Pharmaceuticals Removal from Wastewater Effluents by Single and Combined Ozone-Sorption Systems and Fate of Transformation Products

The occurrence of pharmaceuticals in water bodies is of growing concern as they pose potential toxicity to wildlife and humans. Since the removal of these compounds via conventional wastewater treatment plants is typically not efficient, advanced processes such as oxidation and adsorption are considered alternatives. In this review study, ozonation combined with adsorption filtration systems is evaluated for the removal of pharmaceuticals and their transformation products from municipal wastewater effluents. Ozonation has a large capacity for the removal of pharmaceuticals from municipal wastewater; however, potential toxic transformation products can be created which require a post-treatment step to mitigate the adverse effects in recipient waters. Various sorption methods have been investigated as post-treatment, with activated carbon being addressed as the most common one. Other sorption technologies such as ion exchange, biochar, constructed wetlands, and biofiltration were also evaluated in this review article. Biochar was considered to have great potential as a promising alternative adsorbent which is known as a more sustainable material. The combination of ozonation with the adsorption method enables the limitations of each single treatment to be reduced and allows the treatment train to become more efficient.