Photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceuticals using TiO2 based nanocomposite catalyst - review

The occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) such as pharmaceutical compounds (PhACs) is becoming a major global issue due to the persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity of these pollutants. Human and animal consumption was recognized as the major sources for pharmaceutical pollution. Existent conventional treatment processes have shown low degradation efficiencies towards PhACs. In this regard, TiO2 based nanocomposite photocatalysis process has presented effective degradation towards PhACs. Operational parameters such as dopant content, catalyst loading, and initial pH were the major factors in the photocatalysis system. In this review, we discuss the recent studies that have employed TiO2 based nanocomposite for the degradation of PhACs. Future research recommendations have also been elaborated.