Green Technologies for Pharmaceutical Removal From Water

The detection of pharmaceuticals in aquatic ecosystems is a critical global environmental challenge. Conventional wastewater treatment plants are not equipped to remove these complex, biologically active molecules, leading to their release into surface waters, groundwater, and drinking water supplies. Micro-pollutants such as antibiotics, endocrine drugs, and analgesics pose serious risks to ecological integrity and public health, driving antimicrobial resistance and disrupting endocrine function in aquatic life.This Research Topic focuses on “green” technologies for pharmaceutical remediation that avoid secondary chemical pollution, minimize energy consumption, and use eco-friendly materials. Current oxidation and separation processes often carry high operational costs, rely heavily on toxic chemical inputs, and generate hazardous secondary sludge or toxic transformation products. By prioritizing low-carbon, circular-economy approaches, this Research Topic aims to bridge the gap between fundamental laboratory discoveries and scalable, green engineering solutions, helping to safeguard both freshwater resources and public health.We welcome research on chemically modified agro-waste and sustainable biomass as low-cost, high-capacity adsorbents for pharmaceuticals, as well as green oxidation processes such as solar-driven photocatalysis, green-synthesized nanoparticles, and eco-friendly catalytic frameworks capable of fully mineralizing pharmaceutical targets without harmful chemical byproducts.Specific themes of interest include, but are not limited to:• Eco-friendly Adsorbents – novel surface functionalization of biomass and agro-waste for targeted pharmaceutical capture • Green Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) – solar photocatalysis, green-synthesized catalysts, and low-energy radical generation • Bioremediation – enzymatic degradation, constructed wetlands, and microalgae-based wastewater treatment • Mechanistic Insights – degradation pathways, transformation products, and ecotoxicity assessments of treated effluentsThis Research Topic welcomes Original Research, Reviews, and Perspective articles, FAIR2 Data articles, among others, covering laboratory-scale innovations, pilot-scale trials, and mechanistic modeling. We invite multi-disciplinary contributions from environmental chemists, chemical engineers, and materials scientists. Manuscripts should emphasize sustainability metrics, such as life-cycle assessments, material reusability, or energy-efficiency calculations, to demonstrate a genuinely green approach. Topic editors: Zeinab Ezzeddine, Akram Hijazi Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/82251/green-technologies-for-pharmaceutical-removal-from-water