Effective method developed to remove pharmaceutical residues from water using boron-doped diamond

As published in the journal Separation and Purification Technology, boron-doped diamond could be one of the most powerful tools for destroying traces of medicines before they reach the environment. Antibiotics, painkillers and cardiovascular drugs end up in rivers and lakes every day after passing through wastewater treatment plants. Although present in small concentrations, these compounds pose a threat both to biodiversity and to human health, as they contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. According to the World Health Organization, antimicrobial resistance is one of the main health threats of the 21st century.

In this context, a team from the University Institute for Industrial, Radiophysical and Environmental Safety (ISIRYM) of the UPV and the Calagua group (UPV–UV) has validated a promising technology: electrochemical oxidation based on boron-doped diamond. This material makes it possible to generate highly reactive radicals that break down pharmaceutical molecules into harmless products such as water and carbon dioxide.

In laboratory trials, the team managed to almost completely eliminate three common pharmaceutical compounds: ibuprofen, norfloxacin – an antibiotic used for urinary tract infections – and atenolol, employed in the treatment of cardiovascular conditions.

“The main advantage of the process is that removal occurs in a controlled and effective way, regardless of the initial amount of contaminants”, explains Jordi Carrillo Abad, researcher at the University of Valencia in the Calagua group. “In addition, we have found that it is particularly efficient at high concentrations, which makes it ideal for wastewater from hospitals or pharmaceutical industries”.

“Less than one third of surface waters in the EU are in good chemical condition, and pharmaceutical pollution is one of the main causes, according to the European Environment Agency. And the problem goes beyond the environmental impact, as antibiotics present in water promote antimicrobial resistance, a serious threat to public health”, says Manuel César Martí, researcher at ISIRYM. “Boron-doped diamond, far from being a piece of jewellery, could become a key tool to eliminate these residues and halt the spread of resistant bacteria”, he concludes.

According to the research team, the focus is now on optimising the system’s energy consumption in order to make it more sustainable and achieve the application of this technology on an industrial scale.

Reference:

Balseviciute, A., Patiño-Cantero, I., Carrillo-Abad, J., Giner-Sanz, J. J., García-Gabaldón, M., Pérez-Herranz, V., & Martí-Calatayud, M. C. (2025). Degradation of multicomponent pharmaceutical mixtures by electrochemical oxidation: Insights about the process evolution at varying applied currents and concentrations of organics and supporting electrolyte. Separation and Purification Technology, 362, 131697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2025.131697