A review on three-dimensional electrochemical technology for the antibiotic wastewater treatment

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2023-06, Vol.30 (29), p.73150-73173
• Main Authors: Ma, Jinsong, Wang, Xiaona, Sun, Haishu, Tang, Weiqi, Wang, Qunhui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibiotics; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biodegradability; Biodegradation; Biological effects; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Electrochemistry; Electrode materials; Electrodes; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Genotoxicity; Mineralization; Parameters; Reaction mechanisms; Review Article; Technology utilization; Waste Water Technology; Wastewater treatment; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Water treatment
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27565-2

The potential genotoxicity and non-biodegradability of antibiotics in the natural water bodies threaten the survival of various living things and cause serious environmental pollution and destruction. Three-dimensional (3D) electrochemical technology is considered a powerful means for antibiotic wastewater treatment as it can degrade non-biodegradable organic substances into non-toxic or harmless substances and even completely mineralize them under the action of electric current. Therefore, antibiotic wastewater treatment using 3D electrochemical technology has now become a hot research topic. Thus, in this review, a detailed and comprehensive investigation was conducted on the antibiotic wastewater treatment using 3D electrochemical technology, including the structure of the reactor, electrode materials, the influence of operating parameters, reaction mechanism, and combination with other technologies. Many studies have shown that the materials of electrode, especially particle electrode, have a great effect on the antibiotic wastewater treatment efficiency. The influence of operating parameters such as cell voltage, solution pH, and electrolyte concentration was very significant. Combination with other technologies such as membrane and biological technologies has effectively increased antibiotic removal and mineralization efficiency. In conclusion, the 3D electrochemical technology is considered as a promising technology for the antibiotic wastewater treatment. Finally, the possible research directions of the 3D electrochemical technology for antibiotic wastewater treatment were proposed.