Thousands of tons of pharmaceuticals are sold every year, some of which end up in the environment as existing wastewater treatment plants are not designed to break down these complex substances. At the same time, the demand for clean water resources is increasing, which requires new, efficient technologies.

SITEC Industrietechnologie GmbH is coordinating the project and working with Fraunhofer IFAM and hanseWasser Bremen GmbH to develop biohybrid filter systems. Inspired by natural filtration by marine sponges, the filters combine living microorganisms with laser-structured surfaces that provide the microbes with a protected habitat. These microorganisms use drug residues such as diclofenac and paracetamol as an energy source and break them down effectively.

A key advantage of biohybrid filters is their self-regeneration, which makes them more durable and cost-efficient than conventional filter technologies. Once successfully integrated into existing wastewater treatment plants, the technology could not only improve water quality, but also save energy and reduce pollutant loads in water bodies.

The DeDrug-Bio project demonstrates how biological principles and technical innovations can be combined to tackle environmental challenges and promote public health. Further information on the project partners and the technological approaches can be found on the project page (only in German).