The issue of disinfection of hospital effluents remains relevant, because COVID-19 is not the only infectious disease. Scientists from the Ukrainian State University of Chemical Technology, Dnipro State Medical University and Oles Honchar Dnipro National University have decided to create not expensive and effective hospital wastewater treatment system. Their project “Conditionally Reagentless Hospital Wastewater Treatment Systems” won the call “Science for Human Security and Society” of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine and received funding in the amount of 5,5 million UAH.
What is drained into the sewer?
The project supervisor is Oleksandr Velichenko, Head of the Department of Physical Chemistry of the Ukrainian State University of Chemical Technology, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. – In Ukraine there were almost no comprehensive studies of the damage from the effluent of pharmaceuticals and biological contaminants – he said. – There were no technologies that would destroy both pharmaceuticals and bio-pollutants at the same time. The situation is complicated by the fact that hospitals are usually located within settlements and there is no free space or money for the construction of a separate infrastructure for sewage disposal and the placement of industrial equipment.
Act locally
That is why the researchers decided to act locally – to create a compact system of sewage disinfection, which can be quickly placed in the right department. The device created by scientists during the project allows you to disinfect hospital effluents without the use of chemical reagents. This is a laboratory prototype that is no larger than a desktop computer system unit in its size. The device has a built-in DC source, a pump and electrochemical cells with special electrodes. Water passes through these cells, electrolysis occurs and hazardous substances are destroyed.
Resistance is not a sentence!
The system helps to solve two problems at the same time. First of all, during the passage through the cells, pharmaceuticals that cause mutations in biosystems lose activity. Secondly, strong oxidants (hypochlorite, ozone) and hydrogen peroxide are formed in the aqueous solution. Another words, an oxidizing environment for effective disinfection is formed. Oxidants neutralize environmentally hazardous substances (viruses and bacteria) and destroy drugs. Scientists hope that such wastewater treatment will be a good contribution to solving the problem of viruses and bacterial resistance to drugs.
Results – not «on the shelf»
The project is over, but its results are not «on the shelf». Researchers have signed an agreement with a private manufacturer of pharmaceuticals and plan to create a modular flow system prototype for hospital effluent treatment and test it.
Scientist advises colleagues who plan to apply for future the NRFU calls to create a multidisciplinary team: this will involve specialists from different fields and get the best results. – We should not be afraid of the demands of experts and the Scientific Council of the Foundation – he added with a smile. – Significant scientific achievements and the most careful preparation of the call application are the ingredients of success!
Svitlana GALATA
