the effluents. The potency of these food dyes has a high degree of risk for marine
wealth indicating development of process for decolourization (Husband 2014). The
consequences of these adverse effects may be hazardous on the unique species
present in the microbial flora and fauna, as well as planktons in water bodies
which are essentials for maintenance of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and
biological oxygen demand (BOD) (Kanu and Achi 2011).
The discharge of effluents from pharmaceutical industries to water bodies
introduces chemical agents such as antibiotics which are mainly responsible for
potential toxicity and water contamination. These antibiotics are released into the
water bodies during production of effluents from pharmaceutical industries and
human discharge and disposal. The continuous exposure to antibiotics leads to
development of antibiotic-resistant strains that act as a threat to public health (Kim
and Aga 2007; Koch et al. 2021). Different antibiotics have been identified in crucial
water resources such as groundwater, surface water and streams (Kolpin et al. 2002).
Also, other environment-maintaining components such as sewage treatment plant
(STP), sludge, soil and sediments are composed of antibiotic residue (Lindsey et al.
2001). Antibiotics are frequently released in large amounts along with municipal
wastewater because of their incomplete metabolism by humans or because of the
inappropriate disposal of unused antibiotics (Díaz-Cruz and Barceló 2005). Such
unregulated activities have not only led to emergence and propagation of antibiotic
resistance but also lead to issues in wastewater treatment and disposal (Kim and
Carlson 2007).
Amplified exposure to these antibiotics results in development of antibioticresistant microorganisms that disturb the community structure by entering into a
healthy individual and causing diseases (Tandukar et al. 2013; Koch et al. 2021).
This has led to concerns being raised with respect to the possible effects of antibiotic
residues present in the aquatic environment. Antibiotics tend to possess allergenic
potential and cause side effects and toxicity. The basic classes of antibiotics majorly
include beta-lactams derivatives, sulphonamides, tetracyclines, quinolones,
aminoglycosides, macrolides, glycopeptides and oxazolidinones (Van Hoek et al.
2011).
11.1.1 Challenges for Effluent Treatment of Food
and Pharmaceuticals Industries
The process for effluent treatment has differential aspect involving factors such as
engineering and design prospect, high-throughput volume and selection of unit
operation; also, the process economics and sustainability are critical consideration.
The selection of different unit operations such as horizontal subsurface flow
constructed wetland (HSFCW) (Rousseau et al. 2004), upflow anaerobic sludge
blanket reactor (UASB) (Lettinga et al. 1980), membrane bioreactors
(MB) (Stephenson et al. 2000), trickling filter (TF) (Kornaros and Lyberatos
2006), bubble column reactors (BCRs) (Smith et al. 1996), airlift reactors (ALRs)
(Chan et al. 2009), packed bed bioreactors (PBRs) (Silva et al. 2002) and adsorptive
11 Adsorptive Chromatography: A Sustainable Strategy for Treatment of Food and. . . 297
wealth indicating development of process for decolourization (Husband 2014). The
consequences of these adverse effects may be hazardous on the unique species
present in the microbial flora and fauna, as well as planktons in water bodies
which are essentials for maintenance of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and
biological oxygen demand (BOD) (Kanu and Achi 2011).
The discharge of effluents from pharmaceutical industries to water bodies
introduces chemical agents such as antibiotics which are mainly responsible for
potential toxicity and water contamination. These antibiotics are released into the
water bodies during production of effluents from pharmaceutical industries and
human discharge and disposal. The continuous exposure to antibiotics leads to
development of antibiotic-resistant strains that act as a threat to public health (Kim
and Aga 2007; Koch et al. 2021). Different antibiotics have been identified in crucial
water resources such as groundwater, surface water and streams (Kolpin et al. 2002).
Also, other environment-maintaining components such as sewage treatment plant
(STP), sludge, soil and sediments are composed of antibiotic residue (Lindsey et al.
2001). Antibiotics are frequently released in large amounts along with municipal
wastewater because of their incomplete metabolism by humans or because of the
inappropriate disposal of unused antibiotics (Díaz-Cruz and Barceló 2005). Such
unregulated activities have not only led to emergence and propagation of antibiotic
resistance but also lead to issues in wastewater treatment and disposal (Kim and
Carlson 2007).
Amplified exposure to these antibiotics results in development of antibioticresistant microorganisms that disturb the community structure by entering into a
healthy individual and causing diseases (Tandukar et al. 2013; Koch et al. 2021).
This has led to concerns being raised with respect to the possible effects of antibiotic
residues present in the aquatic environment. Antibiotics tend to possess allergenic
potential and cause side effects and toxicity. The basic classes of antibiotics majorly
include beta-lactams derivatives, sulphonamides, tetracyclines, quinolones,
aminoglycosides, macrolides, glycopeptides and oxazolidinones (Van Hoek et al.
2011).
11.1.1 Challenges for Effluent Treatment of Food
and Pharmaceuticals Industries
The process for effluent treatment has differential aspect involving factors such as
engineering and design prospect, high-throughput volume and selection of unit
operation; also, the process economics and sustainability are critical consideration.
The selection of different unit operations such as horizontal subsurface flow
constructed wetland (HSFCW) (Rousseau et al. 2004), upflow anaerobic sludge
blanket reactor (UASB) (Lettinga et al. 1980), membrane bioreactors
(MB) (Stephenson et al. 2000), trickling filter (TF) (Kornaros and Lyberatos
2006), bubble column reactors (BCRs) (Smith et al. 1996), airlift reactors (ALRs)
(Chan et al. 2009), packed bed bioreactors (PBRs) (Silva et al. 2002) and adsorptive
11 Adsorptive Chromatography: A Sustainable Strategy for Treatment of Food and. . . 297