A review on triclosan in wastewater: Mechanism of action, resistance phenomenon, environmental risks, and sustainable removal techniques

Abstract

Triclosan, belonging to the bisphenols, is known antiseptic broad‐spectrum biocide. It has a very wide range of applications, both in health care, as well as in the household. Triclosan enters the environment, both water bodies and soil, because of its high prevalence and the ability to accumulation. Excessive use of antimicrobial formulations may cause the generation of resistance among microorganisms. Reduced susceptibility to triclosan is observed more frequently and in an expanded group of microorganisms, and is conditioned by a number of different mechanisms occurring on the molecular level. Conventional wastewater treatment processes are not always able to provide a reliable barrier to triclosan. Therefore, additional advanced treatment technologies are being considered in areas, where a triclosan contamination problem has been identified. Removal of triclosan from wastewater is carried out using different biological and chemical techniques, however it should be pointed out that physico‐chemical methods often generate toxic by‐products. Toxicity of triclosan and its degradation products, bacterial resistance to this compound and evident problems with triclosan elimination from wastewater are currently the main problems faced by companies creating products containing triclosan.

Pulsed-Bed Column Adsorption for Triclosan Removal Using Macadamia Nut Shell Activated Carbon

“…Its increasing presence in wastewater and water resources is now of significant environmental concern [1,2], particularly heightened by the focus of the COVID-19 pandemic on sanitation and personal hygiene [2,3]. Research has highlighted the adverse effects of TCS exposure on humans, aquatic life, and microbial communities, attributed to its ability to accumulate within their cells [4][5][6][7]. Studies conducted by Dar et al (2022) [4] have elucidated pathways leading to the formation of harmful by-products resulting from the interaction of triclosan with photodegradation, chlorination, and oxidation processes.…”

“…However, some of these methods' present challenges, such as bioaccumulation or the formation of toxic by-products. Photodegradation and oxidation can generate harmful by-products [4][5][6]8]. Adsorption has emerged as a promising alternative for TCS removal, offering the advantage of producing non-toxic by-products [9,10].…”