Monitoring Antibiotic Pollutants in Water Using Electrochemical Techniques: A Detailed Review

Abstract

This review article examines the application of electrochemical methods for detecting four prevalent antibiotics - azithromycin (AZM), amoxicillin (AMX), tetracycline (TC), and ciprofloxacin (CIP) - in environmental monitoring. Although, antibiotics are essential to contemporary treatment, their widespread usage has contaminated the environment and given rise to antibiotic resistance. Electrochemical techniques offer sensitive, rapid, and cost-effective solutions for monitoring these antibiotics, addressing the limitations of traditional methods. The review provides a comprehensive analysis of various electrochemical approaches, including voltammetry, amperometry, photoelectrochemical and so on, highlighting their principles, advantages, and limitations. Key findings underscore the effectiveness of these methods in detecting antibiotics at trace levels in complex environmental matrices. Implications for environmental health and policy are discussed, emphasizing the importance of reliable detection techniques in mitigating antibiotic resistance and safeguarding ecosystems. Lastly, the article outlines future research directions aimed at enhancing the sensitivity, selectivity, and field-applicability of electrochemical sensors, thus advancing their utility in environmental monitoring and public health protection.

Keywords: Antibiotic detection; biosensors; electrochemical methods; photoelectrochemical; screen printed electrode.