Development of novel biomass-based materials for the treatment of emerging contaminants in water

During the past decades an increased appearance of certain new chemicals in the environment have risen concerns related to their adequate treatment. These emerging pollutants have already proven to have negative effects on water organisms, animal and human beings in many cases. The emerging pollutants include for example pharmaceuticals, such as painkillers (diclofenac), antibiotics (amoxicillin), and female hormones (estradiol).

The objective of this work was to develop novel and efficient materials for removing these specific chemicals from water. The developed materials possess good potential to remove diclofenac and estradiol from water with a high removal rate reaching 95% in the best case. The interesting thing about these materials is that they are produced from organic waste and when exposed to light after each treatment, they can be used repeatedly.