Development of polymeric cryogels as potential matrices for removing antibiotics from wastewater

Abstract

Antibiotics are pharmaceutical compounds used in medical treatment and have been detected worldwide in the aquatic ecosystem. Persistent and continuous existence of these compounds in water/wastewater has raised concerns regarding the toxicity to living organisms and the emergence of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. To prevent antibiotic contamination in water, several techniques such as filtration, coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, adsorption, advanced oxidation, membrane, biological processes and the combination of those methods have been proposed for removal of these substances. The aim of this study is to develop porous polymeric based cryogel matrices for removal of antibiotics from wastewater. This study investigates cryogelation method to prepare matrices by using chitosan and gelatin polymers, as a means to sequester pharmaceuticals in water stream. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.