Photoelectrochemical oxidation of acetaminophen (paracetamol). A review of recent photoelectrocatalysts used in acetaminophen removal from water

SACCO, NICOLÁS; F. A. MARCHESINI; ILARIA GAMBA; GONZALO GARCIA

Catalysts

MDPI

Año: 2023

2073-4344

Despite being an indispensable medium for life and the environment, the deterioration of water quality continues to be a matter of great concern for the scientific community since this problem has generated the need to develop processes for water treatment. Among the wide variety of types of contaminants, the presence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), has become an issue of global concern, since they are present in water in low concentrations, and can persist in the environment, bioaccumulate and be toxic to human health and aquatic biota. Among CECs, this review focused on pharmaceuticals removal which favorable effect they have on human and animal health, are widely recognized, but the consequences or risks associated with the constant disposal of these products to the environment, either through the manufacturing process, consumption, biological excretion or inappropriate disposal, is an area that is under constant study. The presence of pharmaceuticals in water represents a high risk to the environment because they contain active ingredients that were designed to induce specific pharmacological effects but when dissolved in water, reach non-target populations and cause undesirable toxicological effects. This review focuses on the photoelectrochemical (PEC) removal of paracetamol (PTM), as a model molecule, from water employing different photoactive materials (TiO2, BiVO4, ZnO, and tungsten oxides), and the main parameters affecting their performance.