COVID-19 drugs: A critical review of physicochemical properties and removal methods in water

In the post-Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) era, the presence of COVID-19 drugs in the environment has garnered significant attention. These drugs persist in aquatic environments due to their photostability and biological activity. In Wuhan, China, the concentration of chloroquine in surface water reached 20,00 ng/L during the COVID-19 outbreak [1]. Lopinavir, ritonavir, abacavir, zidovudine, efavirenz, nevirapine, lamivudine, and telbivudine have all been detected in aquatic environments [2,3]. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the physicochemical properties and chemical structures of COVID-19 drugs. It reviews and summarizes the removal techniques for these drugs, including biological methods, advanced oxidation processes, and physical treatment technologies. The concept of “COVID-19 specific drugs” is introduced, highlighting their anticipated long-term use in the treatment of COVID-19. Additionally, this study presents a novel analysis of the removal mechanisms of ferrate for COVID-19 drugs and explores future research directions in wastewater treatment technologies for the post-COVID-19 era.