Oxidation processes for cytostatic drugs elimination in aqueous phase: A critical review

• Published in: Journal of environmental chemical engineering 2021-02, Vol.9 (1), p.104709, Article 104709
• Main Authors: Garcia-Costa, Alicia L., Alves, Arminda, Madeira, Luís M., Santos, Mónica S.F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chlorination; Cytostatics; Fenton; Ozonation; Photocatalysis
• ISSN: 2213-3437; 2213-3437
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2020.104709

[Display omitted] •An updated review on cytostatic drugs degradation by advanced oxidation is presented.•Influence of operating conditions on pollutants removal and toxicity are discussed.•Pros and cons of each technology are exposed.•A roadmap for future works is outlined. Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases nowadays. With a continuous growth in cancer-affected patients, the consumption of cytostatic drugs in chemotherapy is also increasing. As a result, these compounds have been found in natural waterbodies, leading to a considerable increase in research studies aiming for their elimination using different oxidation processes. This review compiles all the information on cytostatics’ degradation by chlorination, O3-based technologies (ozonation, peroxone process, UV/O3 and UV/O3/H2O2), H2O2-based technologies (Fenton, Catalytic Wet Peroxide Oxidation, UV/H2O2, photo-Fenton and UV-CWPO), photocatalysis, electrooxidation and persulfate oxidation reported up to 2020. Information on each oxidation process efficiency, influence of several operating conditions, and transformation byproducts and their toxicity are discussed in detail. Finally, an outline on the issues that should be addressed in future works is given.