Sorption of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from water and wastewater by carbonaceous materials: A review

Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) are a group of emerging contaminants frequently detected in water and wastewater. Conventional water treatment processes are not specifically designed for PPCP removal. Thus, advanced materials and technologies are required to eliminate PPCPs to ensure water safety. This review provides an overview of carbonaceous materials (CMs) applied as sorbents for PPCP removal. The sorption of PPCPs by CMs occurs through adhesion, in which, the surface and pores of CMs provide space for PPCP loading and interactions between functional groups on CMs and the chemical structures of PPCPs provide the binding force. Competition between solutes and PPCPs for the sorption sites alter sorption capability of CMs toward PPCPs. Besides, ambient conditions including temperature and pH, significantly influence the sorption behaviors of PPCPs by CMs. The progresses in CM production and the regeneration of spent CMs enables to reduce the treatment cost. This review provides insights into the microcosmic interactions between PPCPs and CMs for the successful implementation of CMs in water and wastewater treatment.