Titanium-based nanostructures for the photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics

The use of pharmaceutical compounds, mainly antibiotics, for human and veterinary applications has increased in recent years. The human and animal body only partially metabolizes administered antibiotics, and the remaining drugs, whether active or unchanged, are eliminated into the environment through urine and feces. Antibiotic-polluted wastewater is treated at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), although they cannot completely remove antibiotics. Since biological treatments are insufficient to break down the majority of antibiotics, more effective ways to degrade them into CO₂ and H₂O must be developed. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are some of the best solutions. Photocatalysis offers many advantages over other advanced oxidation technologies. In recent years, many Ti-based nanostructures have been developed for the photocatalytic removal of antibiotics from the environment. This article summarizes the most recent studies on titanium-based nanocomposites and how they can be used to photodegrade antibiotics in water. The study also considers the safety of these techniques by evaluating the degradation products that are formed and their potential to induce resistance.