Simha, Prithvi
- Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
Pharmaceutical residues in human urine present a critical barrier to its recycling as a circular fertilizer. Gas-phase pulsed corona discharge (PCD) generating short-living radicals at the plasma-liquid interface was applied for targeted and energy-efficient oxidation of anticonvulsant carbamazepine (CBZ) in urine. In aqueous solution, CBZ was rapidly degraded with energy efficiency reaching 50 g kWh(-1). In real urine, CBZ oxidation was hindered (1.6 g kWh(-1)) by competing endogenous organic compounds consuming reactive species. Complete CBZ oxidation was achieved in urine with no detectable loss of plant-essential nutrients (urea, ammonia) or chloride. Compared to conventional ozonation, PCD achieved an order of magnitude higher energy efficiency in CBZ oxidation. The study demonstrates PCD as a targeted pharmaceutical degradation method valorizing human urine.
Keywords
advanced oxidation process; carbamide; creatinine; hydroxyl radical; ozone; psychotropic drug; Tegretol; urea
Published in
Plasma Processes and Polymers
2026, volume: 23, number: 1, article number: e70121
Publisher: WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH
SLU Authors
UKÄ Subject classification
Water Treatment
Fusion, Plasma and Space Physics
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ppap.70121
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/146276