Martin Reyen company operates Pharem Biotech.
Enzymes that chew down drug residues in wastewater. It is the foundation of a new Swedish cleaning technology is now being tested at Hammarby Sjöstadsverk. Behind innovation lies Uppsala company Pharem Biotech.
Bacteria that become resistant to antibiotics produces enzymes that break down drug. Why not use the same technology in a treatment step for drug residues in wastewater? The question stood molecular chemist Martin Ryen three years ago. The result was an entirely new cleaning technology
– We have developed 25 different enzymes that are tailored to break up the bonds in 50 different chemicals molecules, says Martin Ryen, CEO and founder of Pharem Biotech.
The enzymes, which are bound in a filter, chewing simply broken the molecules.
The system is built up in modules, with each module capable of filtering 15 000 m3 per day. Each module is three cubic meter. The purification step is placed as the last step in a wastewater treatment plant.
– According to our calculations landing operation cost of half of existing technologies for the purification of pharmaceutical residues costs .
The lower cost is partly due to the system’s energy independence, and partly because enzymes are cheap to produce. In hard money terms, it is about between 20 to 50 cents per cubic meter of water, the price tag is not quite ready yet.
But a filters do not work indefinitely, the enzymes become worn. It can either be solved by replacing the filters or the enzymes are loaded.
Along with IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute is now being tested purification technology at the research Hammarby Sjöstadsverk. In the first round, five testified persistent drug tested (oxazepam, metroprolol, carbamazepine, diclofenac and Propranolol). The samples from the test are now sent for analysis.
– The technology to tailor enzymes that target specific substances is interesting and would give bigger flexibility in terms of applications than today’s system as ozonation or activated carbon, says Christian Baresel at IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute and director of Hammarby Sjögstadsverk.
Since 2008, he has worked intensively with various pilot projects for drug residues.
– Does the technology as intended are many applications in addition to treatment plants. The technology could for example be used in sources like hospitals.
The project is also Syvad in Grödinge, which operates Himmerfjärd. If the measurements give a good performance technology should be tested on a larger scale with them.
The development of technology has received funding Vinnova project test-beds environmental technology.
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