A study led by researchers from CESAM and the Department of Chemistry of the University of Aveiro has been distinguished as an Editor’s Choice Article in the journal Separation and Purification Technology (Elsevier), a recognition awarded to works of high scientific quality, relevance, and impact in their respective field.
The article, entitled “Biochar-laccase composites as dual-function materials for diclofenac removal via synergistic adsorption and enzymatic degradation,” was coordinated by Vânia Calisto, a CESAM researcher and professor at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Aveiro, together with her team, and presents an innovative approach for the removal of pharmaceutical contaminants from wastewater.
The study focuses on diclofenac, a widely used drug frequently detected in aquatic environments, whose removal remains a challenge for conventional wastewater treatment systems. In this context, the research proposes the development of sustainable composite materials based on biochar derived from brewery industry waste and modified with the enzyme laccase.
The study was led by Hugo F. Rocha as first author and also included other CESAM members: Ângela Almeida and Goreti Pereira, researchers from CESAM/DQ, and Maria Rosário Domingues, a CESAM researcher and professor at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Aveiro.
The results demonstrate a dual removal strategy combining adsorption and enzymatic degradation. In addition to effectively removing the original pollutant, the developed materials also show the ability to retain transformation products generated during the process, overcoming limitations often associated with advanced treatment technologies. The results show nearly complete removal of diclofenac under moderate operating conditions, as well as stable performance of the produced materials over extended periods (up to 120 hours), reinforcing the potential application of these systems in advanced wastewater treatment.
The distinction as an Editor’s Choice Article highlights the scientific relevance of the work and its contribution to the development of sustainable solutions, in line with European requirements for the removal of micropollutants from urban wastewater.
The study was developed for the SYNERGY project (10.54499/2022.02028.PTDC) and results from a collaboration between the University of Aveiro (also including LAQV-REQUIMTE, with the participation of Mário M. Q. Simões), the Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología del Carbono (INCAR, with the participation of María V. Gil), the Universidad de León (Marta Otero), and the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra (Diana L. D. Lima).
The article can be accessed here.
The Editor’s Choice Article distinction can be accessed here.