Microcontaminants in wastewater, FHNW School of Life Sciences

Many sewage treatment plants in Switzerland are currently being equipped to remove micropollutants (e.g. drug residues) from wastewater. Powdered activated carbon can be used for this purpose, as it binds the micropollutants and is then removed from the wastewater.

Researchers at the Institute for Ecopreneurship have investigated how well activated carbon particles are separated in wastewater treatment and which technical processes are suitable for this. A new analytical method was developed to detect activated carbon in wastewater, even in low concentrations. Large-scale tests were then carried out to separate powdered activated carbon in the sewage treatment plant. Using the new method, our research team was able to show that activated carbon is very well suited for filtering micropollutants from water.

The positive results from the investigations at the Sissach wastewater treatment plant are being incorporated into the Schönau wastewater treatment plant expansion project, which will use powdered activated carbon. The plant will go into operation in 2019 and will be the first to use full-scale direct room filtration without sedimentation for powdered activated carbon separation.