NIT Rourkela develops green method to remove pharma pollutants from water

Researchers at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela have developed an innovative method to remove pharmaceutical pollutants from wastewater, offering a sustainable and cost-effective solution to a growing environmental concern. The project, funded by the Centre and conducted in collaboration with Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Ahmedabad, uses a two-stage process combining adsorption and biodegradation to eliminate harmful pharmaceutical residues.

The research, led by Prof Angana Sarkar, Associate Professor in the Department of Biotechnology & Medical Engineering, focuses on tackling pharmaceutical contamination, which often goes untreated in water bodies. These pollutants, originating from domestic sewage, hospital waste, pharmaceutical industries and livestock farming, not only affect aquatic life but also contribute to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

According to the study published in the Journal of Water Process Engineering, pharmaceutical pollutants pose significant risks to both humans and aquatic organisms, even at trace concentrations. Their impact has been observed in lower trophic levels, with incidents of fish mortality and declining eagle and vulture populations in the Indian subcontinent. In humans, prolonged exposure to these contaminants can lead to kidney and liver damage, hypertension and developmental disorders.

Explaining the process, the researchers said in the first stage, biochar adsorbents derived from roasted coco peat and rice straw are used to capture antibiotics, significantly reducing contamination before biological treatment. In the second stage, a specialised bacterial group, including klebsiella and pseudomonas strains, breaks down residual pharmaceutical compounds such as diclofenac, paracetamol and synthetic dyes.

Prof Sarkar emphasised that the treatment process is completely safe, relying on biologically derived methods that do not produce any toxic intermediates. She noted that the approach not only protects biodegrading bacteria but also minimises toxic byproducts, ensuring an eco-friendly way to manage pharmaceutical contamination. The treatment costs Rs 2.6 per liter, a figure that could be further reduced through process optimisation and integration into existing wastewater treatment systems.

The researchers believe that this scalable and non-toxic method can be widely adopted by pharmaceutical industries, potentially playing a crucial role in combating water pollution and antibiotic resistance in the near future.