Using Algae to Remove Pharmaceutical Residues in Wastewater

Researchers at Mendel University in Brno, Czechia, are developing a new water purification system that uses algae to tackle persistent pollutants. This approach targets wastewater contaminants such as fertilizers, pesticides, and pharmaceutical residues.

Jan Veselský, a member of Mendel University's Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, is exploring how different algae strains can improve wastewater quality using advanced bioreactor technology and a multi-section container system.

"Each section houses different algae paired with specific bacteria to tackle a range of residues, including pesticides and pharmaceuticals," he added.

The results from laboratory testing are promising. Pharmaceutical residues decreased by up to 80% in five days, while phosphorus was nearly eliminated, with reductions between 90% and 95% occurring within hours. Nitrogen levels also showed an 80% decline over a week.

The researchers plan their treatment process as the final step in wastewater purification, ensuring that water is intensively cleaned before being released into the environment. Plans are underway to test the system at a wastewater treatment facility in Židlochovice, near Brno, to assess its performance and effectiveness on a larger scale.

Pavel Chaloupský, director of the Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, emphasizes the technology's broader potential. Beyond purification, the algae biomass produced during treatment could be repurposed as fuel for biogas plants or as an organic fertilizer, pending additional safety testing.

While algae-based technologies are becoming more common in the United States, their adoption in Europe remains limited.

Read the full article here to learn more about algae's significant role in sustainable water management and pollution reduction.

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