Photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics and pharma pollutants in water

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) have been identified as a significant class of pollutants demanding immediate attention owing to their widespread usage, entry, and prevalence in the ecosystem. They have been identified to cause several potential hazards to all forms of life despite being identified in very less concentrations. Several environmental agencies have classified PPCPs as contaminants of emerging concern. The potential disadvantages they pose necessitate the identification of efficient treatment methodologies. Of all the identified and investigated methods, photocatalysis has been identified as the most promising solution owing to the economic and environmental benefits it beholds. The present chapter attempts to throw light on PPCPs, their possible route of entry into the ecosystem, and the adversities they impose on all life forms. Attempts have been made to evaluate the several treatment methodologies prevailing and to throw light on the advantages that photocatalysis holds over all other methods. Due emphasis has been given to the underlying principles and the operation mechanism of photocatalysts in general. Focus has been given to the different photocatalysts that have been so far put to use toward photocatalytic degradation of different PPCPs with due attention to the degradation mechanisms.