Recent advances and prospects in antibiotics removal by coagulation technique: a systematic review

Abstract

Antibiotics, as emerging environmental contaminants, pose significant ecological and human health risks due to their persistence in aquatic systems. Thus, the environmental risks associated with antibiotics necessitate the application of innovative, efficient, and sustainable technologies for pollution control. As an environmentally friendly approach, coagulation has attracted considerable attention for antibiotic wastewater treatment. However, successful implementation requires thorough evaluation of performance characteristics and influencing factors. Currently, no comprehensive review exists that systematically examines coagulation's effectiveness and applications for antibiotic removal. This work specifically focuses on recent advances in coagulation technology for antibiotic treatment, particularly addressing key influencing factors and practical applications. Different coagulants or flocculants and factors affecting coagulation efficiency are summarized, and the performance of coagulation applied to real antibiotic wastewater and in combination with other processes is also elucidated. Despite remarkable advances, there are still several issues that require serious consideration, including the structure-activity relationship of coagulants, the mechanism of the external conditions on coagulation effects, and the industrial application of coagulation for the treatment of antibiotics. This review concludes by identifying emerging trends and future research directions to enhance coagulation processes for effective antibiotic removal from both water and wastewater systems. Overall, by examining the latest advancements and applications, this review aims to highlight the potential and challenges of coagulation treatment of antibiotics, promoting the development of practical applications in antibiotic treatment technologies.