IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v17y2024i20p5043-d1496058.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Pharmaceutical Wastewater and Sludge Valorization: A Review on Innovative Strategies for Energy Recovery and Waste Treatment

Author

Listed:
  • W. J. Pech-Rodríguez

    (Department of Mechatronics, Polytechnic University of Victoria, Ciudad Victoria 87138, Tamaulipas, Mexico)

  • P. C. Meléndez-González

    (Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, (UANL) Ave. Universidad S/N, Cd. Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza C.P. 66455, Nuevo León, Mexico)

  • J. M. Hernández-López

    (Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, (UANL) Ave. Universidad S/N, Cd. Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza C.P. 66455, Nuevo León, Mexico)

  • G. G. Suarez-Velázquez

    (Departamento de Ingeniería en Energía, Universidad Politécnica de Altamira, Nuevo Libramiento Altamira Km. 3, Santa Amalia, Altamira 89602, Tamaulipas, Mexico)

  • César R. Sarabia-Castillo

    (School of Education, Universidad Vizcaya De Las Américas-Campus Saltillo, Boulevard Venustiano Carranza 4925, Saltillo C.P. 25210, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico)

  • C. A. Calles-Arriaga

    (Department of Mechatronics, Polytechnic University of Victoria, Ciudad Victoria 87138, Tamaulipas, Mexico)

Abstract

Currently, a large amount of pharmaceutical waste (PW) and its derivatives are being produced and, in some cases, inadequate management or treatment practices are applied. In this regard, this research explores the adoption of several alternatives to deal with these problems, including biocarbon within the framework of the circular economy. Photocatalytic nanomaterials have been also extensively discussed as a feasible way to remove pharmaceutical compounds in wastewater. Although there are existing reports in this area, this document provides a detailed study of the synthesis process, experimental conditions, the integration of photocatalysts, and their impact on enhancing photocatalytic efficiency. Additionally, the low cost and ease of fabrication of lab-scale microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are thoroughly examined. This innovative technology not only facilitates the degradation of hazardous compounds in wastewater but also harnesses their energy to generate electricity simultaneously. The aforementioned approaches are covered and discussed in detail by documenting interesting recently published research and case studies worldwide. Furthermore, this research is of significant importance because it addresses the valorization of PW by generating valuable by-products, such as H 2 and O 2 , which can occur simultaneously during the photodegradation process, contributing to more sustainable industrial practices and clean energy technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • W. J. Pech-Rodríguez & P. C. Meléndez-González & J. M. Hernández-López & G. G. Suarez-Velázquez & César R. Sarabia-Castillo & C. A. Calles-Arriaga, 2024. "Pharmaceutical Wastewater and Sludge Valorization: A Review on Innovative Strategies for Energy Recovery and Waste Treatment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-27, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:20:p:5043-:d:1496058
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/20/5043/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/20/5043/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Liu, Huidong & Xu, Guoren & Li, Guibai, 2021. "Autocatalytic sludge pyrolysis by biochar derived from pharmaceutical sludge for biogas upgrading," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ma, Mingyan & Xu, Donghai & Gong, Xuehan & Diao, Yunfei & Feng, Peng & Kapusta, Krzysztof, 2023. "Municipal sewage sludge product recirculation catalytic pyrolysis mechanism from a kinetic perspective," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    2. Luo, Juan & Ma, Rui & Lin, Junhao & Sun, Shichang & Gong, Guojin & Sun, Jiaman & Chen, Yi & Ma, Ning, 2023. "Review of microwave pyrolysis of sludge to produce high quality biogas: Multi-perspectives process optimization and critical issues proposal," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    3. Nie, Yazhou & Deng, Mengsi & Shan, Ming & Yang, Xudong, 2023. "Clean and low-carbon heating in the building sector of China: 10-Year development review and policy implications," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    4. Ran, Peng & Ou, YiFan & Zhang, ChunYu & Chen, YuTong, 2024. "Energy, exergy, economic, and life cycle environmental analysis of a novel biogas-fueled solid oxide fuel cell hybrid power generation system assisted with solar thermal energy storage unit," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 358(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:20:p:5043-:d:1496058. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.