Integration of methodologies for the sanitation and treatment of wastewater contaminated by pharmaceuticals

Introduction. The research aims to analyse the present physical, chemical, and combined methods and practices used to extract pharmaceuticals (PC) from wastewater (WW) starting from different sources, such as municipal waste and hospital release, emphasizing PC manufacturing companies. PC contaminants are primarily persistent organic chemicals not readily eliminated by standard WW treatment (WWT) procedures.Materials and methods. The research examined suggests that enhanced oxidation methods can destroy these persistent medicines. The oxidation introduces harmful oxidation products if these procedures are not carefully controlled. Physical processes, including adsorption of carbon and membrane filtering, can give an obstacle that inhibits both parent substances and harmful products from flowing into treated effluent.Results. A combination of multiple procedures can be an appropriate treatment plan for the persistence and degrading of both parent and conversion chemicals. The benefits of the procedures are integrated through combined technology, resulting in a maximization of pollutant cancellation. Sophisticated oxidation manipulation, either pre-treatment or post-treatment, paired with a natural adsorption or filtering method, is a promising approach.Limitations. However, the best procedures for PCs-containing WW depend on the quality and amount of WW, the PC compound leftovers, and their dangerous consequences.Conclusion. This research underscores the importance of combining enhanced oxidation methods with physical processes like adsorption and membrane filtration to effectively extract PC from WW. While these integrated approaches show promise in degrading contaminants, their success depends on the specific characteristics of the WW and the PC present. Continued exploration and refinement of these methods are essential for addressing PC pollution comprehensively. Future studies should focus on optimizing these strategies across varied WW contexts.Compliance with Ethical Standards. The research adheres to ethical guidelines as set forth by the relevant authorities. All procedures involving human or animal subjects were approved by the appropriate ethics committee, and all necessary consent forms were obtained.Contribution: Dewangan H. — designed and conducted the research, performed the data analysis, and wrote the manuscript; Dewangan T. — contributed to the methodology and helped with data interpretation. All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.Conflict of Interest. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.Acknowledgment. The authors would like to thank Kalinga University for providing the resources and facilities necessary for conducting this research.Received: October 22, 2024 / Revised: November 15, 2024 / Accepted: December 3, 2024 / Published: April 30, 2025

Sanitation, Wastewater, pharmaceuticals, Review