Progress of antibiotics removal from synthetic and real waters and wastewaters by persulfate-based advanced oxidation processes

Abstract

Bacteriological diseases of humans and animals can be held by the supply of specific antibiotics that allow a larger average-life expectancy. Low concentrations of these recalcitrant compounds have been found in natural waters, which can cause serious health risks to living beings by raising the resistance to bacterial infection, the control of infectious diseases, and the damage of the beneficial bacteria. Antibiotics are very stable at mild conditions and cannot be completely removed in municipal wastewater treatment plants. Over the last decade, potent persulfate (PS)-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are being developed to guaranty the efficient abatement of antibiotics in synthetic and real waters and wastewaters. This review presents a critical and comprehensive analysis of different procedures used to activate PS for form strong oxidants like sulfate radical (SO4•−) and hydroxyl radical (•OH), covering up to June 2023. The radical superoxide ion (O2•−) and non-radical singlet oxygen (1O2) can also be produced and acted as oxidants depending on the experimental conditions. Homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic, UVC, photocatalytic, thermal, dielectric barrier, and electrochemical processes for PS activation are summarized. Other hybrid methods with 1 activator and combined activation processes are also examined. The fundamentals and characteristics of these treatments are described remarking their oxidation power to abate antibiotics, the effect of operating variables, the generation and identification of radical and non-radical oxidizing agents, the influence of added inorganic anions and natural organic matter, and the detection of by-products produced. Finally, the toxicity of treated antibiotic solutions by PS-based AOPs is discussed.