Applications of molecularly imprinted titania-based photocatalysis for degradation of pharmaceutical pollutants in the aqueous environment

Abstract

• Pharmaceutical pollution is a major problem in the environment. • Photocatalytic degradation provides a viable method for pharmaceutical remediation. • Application of MIPs embedded on various semiconductor nanocomposites is discussed. • The potential of commercialization and future perspectives are also discussed. • Photocatalysts combined with MIPs may hold the future of pharmaceutical remediation. Pharmaceutical residues and their ecotoxicological impact on aquatic organisms are well documented which has forced researchers to shift focus towards finding sustainable pollution control technologies that can effectively control their levels in the environment. Photocatalytic degradation has offered a viable alternative with the ability to eliminate pharmaceutical residues through degradation and eventual mineralization to less-toxic products. Despite its documented successes, photocatalysis still has its challenges that relate to the presence of scavengers of photogenerated radicals and decomposed matrices accumulating on the surface of the photocatalyst. This has led to the incorporation of molecularly imprinted polymers on the surface of the photocatalyst to allow only selected targets to reach the photocatalyst. This review provides a concise yet comprehensive look at the integration of photocatalysis with molecular imprinting technology focussing on titania-based photocatalysts combined with molecularly imprinted polymers for selective degradation of pharmaceutical pollutants in the aqueous environment. The principles, applications, challenges and future directions of molecularly imprinted photocatalytic degradation as a technology for the remediation of pharmaceuticals in aqueous environments are highlighted.