Metronidazole Removal Methods from Aquatic Media: A Systematic Review

Context: Pharmaceutical products, particularly antibiotics, are new emerging contaminants that have caused much concern due to their accumulation in the environment and their other various adverse effects. Among such pharmaceutical products, metronidazole (MTN) is an important pollutant in the environment due to its broad use and resistance to biological breakdown. As a result, the need to control and eliminate this pollutant must be addressed more than ever. In this study, in addition to providing the most widely used methods for eliminatingMTNantibiotic from the contaminated waste, the advantages and disadvantages of each method have also been analyzed. Evidence Acquisition: This descriptive-interpretive study was conducted using documents and library resources. Results: There are several methods to remove antibiotics from aqueous environments, each having disadvantages along with advantages, which limit their application. Meanwhile, nanotechnology with its new solutions suggests that nano-sized substances can lead to more effective, cheaper, and more durable water treatment technologies, which can satisfy the needs of developing countries. Conclusions: According to the results of this investigation, it appears that in recent years, nanotechnology and advanced oxidation process, which are based on the production of free and active radicals, especially OH0, have been effective because of their high oxidation power.