Sonochemical Degradation of Pharmaceutical Compounds From Water and Wastewater Publisher



Dehghani MH ; Bashardoust P ; Ahmadi M ; Rezvani Ghalhari M ; Alizadeh Sani M ; Momeniha F ; Hamidi F ; Borhani Yazdi N ; Khan NA
Source: Ultrasonic Treatment of Water and Wastewater: Removal of Biological and Chemical Pollutants and Combined Processes Published:2026

Abstract

The presence of various emerging contaminants (ECs) in different environmental compartments has become one of the major concerning issues worldwide. Since the conventional treatment techniques are incapable of complete removal of these pollutants, numerous advanced techniques have been studied to overcome the ECs degradation, especially in water media. Pharmaceuticals and personal care products are one of the major groups of ECs. The results of various studies conducted in the water bodies have revealed the presence of different pharmaceutical compounds (PhCs) and their metabolites, which is concerning. Therefore enhancing the conventional treatment techniques for the desirable degradation of ECs from the effluent is of great importance. Ultrasound (US) waves have proven to be an effective tool for enhancing the degradation of PhCs. A combination of ultrasound and advanced treatment techniques, including adsorption and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), has shown great ability in the degradation of PhCs. This chapter briefly reviews US wave’s mechanisms for PhCs degradation pathways, the combination of US and adsorption technique, and the combination of US and AOPs for the degradation of pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, challenges and future prospects in the application of US waves as an efficient tool for the degradation of ECs will also be provided. © 2026 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.