Electrokinetic Remediation for Environmental Security and Sustainability

6Pharmaceutically Active Compounds in Wastewater Treatment Plants: Electrochemical Advanced Oxidation as Onsite Treatment

Ana Rita Ferreira¹, Paula Guedes^1,2, Eduardo P. Mateus¹, Alexandra B. Ribeiro¹, and Nazaré Couto¹

CENSE – Center for Environmental and Sustainability Research, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Caparica 2829‐516, Portugal

Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras 2780‐157, Portugal

6.1 Introduction

6.1.1 Emerging Organic Contaminants

Emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) or contaminants of emerging concern can be defined as naturally occurring, manufactured, or manmade chemicals or materials whose associated risks cannot be properly evaluated due to the lack of data about their environmental fate and ecotoxicological or toxicological effects [1, 2]. A contaminant remains “emerging” as long as there is a scarcity of information in the scientific literature about the associated potential risks it could cause [1, 2].

EOCs broadly include “lifestyle compounds,” personal care compounds, pharmaceuticals including hormones, and plasticizers [3]. Pharmaceutical products account for 70% of the approximately 4500 chemical compounds available in the world, and the production of pharmaceutical compounds and other medicines is still increasing [4]. Over the years, population growth and the development of new medicines to prevent or ...