Treatment methods for removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products from domestic wastewater

Abstract Rapid urbanization and overuse of pharmaceuticals and personal care products has resulted in their occurrence in water bodies and wastewater streams worldwide. In the past few years, high concentrations of antibiotics, analgesics, antiepileptics, and antimicrobial agents have been detected in Indian rivers and domestic effluents as well. Despite trace concentrations, these micropollutants escape conventional treatment systems and find their way in effluents of sewage treatment plants. This is attributed to certain properties such as log  K ow , water solubility, nonbiodegradability, etc. In order to address these shortcomings, functionalized adsorbents and various advanced treatment methods such as ozonation, membrane processes, and advanced photocatalytic materials have been developed. In this chapter a comparison of state of the art treatment methods has been done and their shortcomings have been discussed. Future research directions have also been suggested.