Resource: Himalayan Times
Date palm leaves can help remove chemicals like pharmaceuticals and dyes from hospital waste water before it is discharged into the municipal sewers, says a scientist from a university in Oman.
Al Said Al Shafey, principal investigator of a project at the chemistry department of Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat, has started a research with an objective to establish a physico-chemical unit for the treatment of hospital waste water. Al Shafey said they could extract dehydrated and activated carbons from date palm leaves, which is a cheap and sustainable resource in Oman.
Al Said Al Shafey, principal investigator of a project at the chemistry department of Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat, has started a research with an objective to establish a physico-chemical unit for the treatment of hospital waste water. Al Shafey said they could extract dehydrated and activated carbons from date palm leaves, which is a cheap and sustainable resource in Oman.
Around 180,000 tones of date palm leaves are produced annually in Oman. The scientists tested different carbons for removal of certain pharmaceuticals like ciprofloxacin, paracetamol, fexofenadine, lisinoprril, diphenhydramine and chloropheneramine maleate from aquatic solutions.
The chemists also examined the removal of heavy metals and dyes.
The results showed that cheap dehydrated carbon from date palm leaves were as efficient as activated carbon for removing pharmaceuticals and dyes.
The findings of the research would be soon utilised in a pilot project in hospital waste water treatment. As per researchers, hospitals consume water ranging from 400 to 1,200 litres per day per bed, and generate waste water loaded with microorganisms, heavy metals, hormones, radioactive isotopes, pharmaceuticals, disinfectants, pigments, dyes and drug components.
The chemists also examined the removal of heavy metals and dyes.
The results showed that cheap dehydrated carbon from date palm leaves were as efficient as activated carbon for removing pharmaceuticals and dyes.
The findings of the research would be soon utilised in a pilot project in hospital waste water treatment. As per researchers, hospitals consume water ranging from 400 to 1,200 litres per day per bed, and generate waste water loaded with microorganisms, heavy metals, hormones, radioactive isotopes, pharmaceuticals, disinfectants, pigments, dyes and drug components.
RSS Feed
