In recent decades, the infiltration of pharmaceuticals into marine ecosystems has raised concerns. This study delves into the introduction of prescription drugs into the environment, identifying causes and issues while exploring effective remediation methods. Among these methods, adsorption emerges as a favorable treatment due to its lower strength requirements and ease of implementation compared to other techniques. However, the widespread use of industrial activated charcoalCharcoal is a black, brittle, and porous material produced by heating wood or other organic substances in a low-oxygen environment. It is primarily used as a fuel source for cooking and heating.   More, a well-researched adsorbent, is limited by its high cost.

In response, researchers have investigated alternative, cost-effective adsorbents such as clay, biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More, agricultural and industrial wastes, and metal-organic frameworks to tackle pharmaceutical contamination in water and wastewater. The study scrutinizes various articles on the subject, examining aspects such as continuous fixed-bed processes, regeneration capabilities, historical and economic factors, as well as adsorption performance in terms of kinetics, equilibrium, and thermodynamics.

Pharmaceuticals pose a significant threat to the environment, prompting discussions on their prevalence, causes, and effects, and proactive measures for removal. This summary underscores the pollutant’s integration into aquatic environments, its root causes, consequences, and effective removal strategies. Notably, adsorption presents as a promising solution, offering benefits such as reduced strength depletion and simplified operational conditions compared to alternative treatments.