Innovative Technologies Remove Drug Residues From Wastewater

Every year on March 22, World Water Day commemorates the importance of one of life's most important resources. Almost two-thirds of our planet is covered with water, but not even three percent is potable fresh water. Large quantities of chemicals enter our waters every day and endanger the health of people, animals and plants. In addition to pesticides, for example, residues of medicines also pollute our drinking water. The Leibniz Institute for Plasma Research and Technology (INP) has developed technical solutions to remove such pollutants from wastewater.

According to information from the German Federal Environment Agency, more than 400 different active pharmaceutical ingredients and their intermediate or transformation products have already been detected in the environment. Veterinary medicines end up in liquid manure and manure as fertilizer on our fields or are excreted by grazing animals. From there they get into bodies of water and near-surface groundwater. Medicines for human use reach the sewage treatment plants via waste water, but are usually not removed there.

The German Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies vfa points out the low concentration of drug residues found in the water. However, according to the association, one way of eliminating these residues would be to expand the sewage treatment technology currently in use so that medicinal substances do not get into water.

Innovative processes ensure clean water
Prof. Dr. Juergen Kolb, an expert in environmental technologies at the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Research and Technology (INP), explains the current state of research: "We combine classic physical processes for wastewater treatment with new technologies such as ultrasound, pulsed electric fields and plasma technology. This allows us to break down chemical compounds such as drug residues and other man-made contaminants and convert them into harmless substances.”

These processes have already proven their potential in various INP research projects. The approaches are currently being transferred to practice-relevant environments. “Our approach is currently mobile systems that can be used in hospitals, for example, where the water pollution with drug residues is particularly high. In view of the increasing number of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, we see an urgent need for action," adds Kolb. The technologies are also suitable as a fourth cleaning stage for municipal sewage treatment plants.

The United Nations created World Water Day. It has been held on March 22 every year since 1993. This year's motto is "Accelerating Change". On this day, actions are taking place around the world that point out the vital importance of water and support initiatives for clean water and the careful use of the resource.