Gdańsk/ Scientists have developed a new method for purifying pollutants from water

A team of scientists from Gdańsk and Wrocław has obtained a patent for an invention that removes contaminants affecting the endocrine system from water. This innovative method reduces the costs of purifying surface waters of biologically active compounds, including drug residues.

UG spokeswoman Magdalena Nieczuja-Goniszewska said in a statement that the patented method involves the use of so-called non-thermal atmospheric plasma.

She explained that the process is carried out using a specially designed system in which a flowing aqueous solution is exposed to cold plasma generated in air at atmospheric pressure by initiating a glow discharge.

She stated that the innovative nature of the method is related to, among other things, the continuous and flow-through nature of the reaction-discharge system, the ability to simultaneously and effectively remove at least 7 different biologically active contaminants, and the lack of the need to use noble discharge gases, which reduces the costs of the entire process.

The invention will contribute to solving the problem of environmental pollution, including surface waters, with endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), enabling their effective degradation in a process that does not require the use of harmful substances such as reducing agents or oxidizing agents.

Dr. hab. Magda Caban, prof. UG, said that cold atmospheric plasma is a promising technology for wastewater treatment, offering many advantages over traditional methods, including high efficiency, environmental safety, and ease of use.

The invention was developed by scientists from the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of the University of Gdańsk and the Medical University of Gdańsk and the Faculty of Chemistry of the University of Gdańsk in cooperation with researchers from the Wrocław University of Science and Technology.

The solution has been tested in the laboratory. The next step is testing in real-world conditions and preparing for implementation.

The invention could find applications in industries such as the pharmaceutical industry and agriculture, reducing the negative impact of this type of infrastructure on the natural environment. (PAP)

Science in Poland

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