Chapter 13 - Consequences of pharmaceutically active compounds and their removal strategies

Abstract

Pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) are those chemicals that are targeted on the molecular and metabolic pathways of animals and humans for certain specific purposes. Nowadays, there is a subsequent increase in the number of these chemical compounds. PhACs include diuretics, tranquilizers, therapeutic drugs, and antibiotics. Though these have proved beneficial to humanity, still the release of these active compounds in the environment is a major threat. The purpose of our study is to identify these PhACs and focus on certain efficient methods for their removal from the environment. When there is an increase in the concentration of these compounds in the environment, it gives rise to major threats; for example, when released into water bodies, it proves harmful to the aquatic environment. Antibiotics and analgesics are mainly found in the aquatic environment because they are consumed more than other compounds. Long-term exposure to PhACs in humans is also worrying because they have adverse impacts on human health. Their removal from the environment is necessary and, for this, there are certain techniques and methods for their efficient removal. Their removal is dependent on the physical and chemical nature of the compounds and the environmental matrices which are being contaminated. These are phytoremediation techniques, biological techniques, chemical techniques, electrocoagulation process, sorption process, oxidation process, use of metal organic framework (MOFS), etc. These methods are widely being used for eviction of PhACs from the environment. Researchers are further trying to explore the use of MOFs and the development of nanocomposites from magnetic metal organic frameworks. In future, there will be further exploration on developing nano-adsorbents which can assist more for the potent removal of PhACs from environment.