The study by REWA on the adsorption of pharmaceuticals from municipal wastewater effluent was published in Environmental Research, (2025), 120774, 268. It investigated the use of magnetite-pine bark (MPB) as a low-cost biosorbent for pharmaceutical removal from municipal wastewater. Pilot-scale tests demonstrated MPB’s high removal efficiency, achieving rates of 99.7% for trimethoprim, 93.7% for venlafaxine, and 89.4% for ketoprofen, positioning it as a viable, cost-effective alternative to activated carbon. While regeneration with NaOH led to a temporary increase in bacterial counts and short-term toxicity, the findings underscore MPB’s sustainability and potential in addressing pharmaceutical contamination. This research provides valuable insights into advancing adsorption technologies for environmentally friendly wastewater treatment solutions.

Rhoda Adegoke, one of the PhD students working on this project at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa, had the opportunity to present her research results on the adsorption of the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole onto locally sourced biochar at the 2024 Pan Africa Chemistry Congress held from 29-31 October in Nairobi, Kenya.