Targeted treatment of antibiotics and other pharmaceutical residues with Arvia’s Nyex™ treatment process, to support the prevention of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): PRESENTATION ONLY
Brown, N., Carson, E. and Marjan, A., Arvia, UK
(free)
Arvia, a specialist tertiary water technology company, has developed a unique approach for the treatment of hard to treat (recalcitrant) compounds. Arvia’s Nyex™ Treatment Systems combine adsorption with electrochemical oxidation in a single, scalable unit. Contaminants are concentrated on the surface of Arvia’s proprietary adsorbent media which is non-porous with high electrical conductivity. This patented media allows for targeted and continuous oxidation. Unlike Granular Activated Carbon, Nyex™ media is effectively regenerated in-situ and the process can continue without interruption or replacement. Results are achieved without chemical dosing or the generation of sludge.
Over several client projects, Arvia has operated their Nyex™ treatment systems to investigate the removal an extensive list of contaminants, including antibiotics and other pharmaceutical residues such as anti-inflammatories, antidepressants and steroids.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a historic problem which naturally occurs when microorganisms develop and mutate through exposure to antibiotics, which inadvertently creates resistance to the medication. In general terms, the main contributors to AMR are excessive consumption and inappropriate usage of antibiotics, alongside improper disposal and removal from water which leads to environmental contamination.
In 2016 it was estimated that 700,000 deaths per year could be attributed to AMR. Current assessments predict that deaths from AMR could reach 10 million by 2050.
Arvia was part of a joint European collaboration project called the DOC2C’s which involved partners from the water industry and universities in the 2 Seas Area. The objectives were to research treatment results on Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) and specific contaminants, including various antibiotics. Regulatory emission limits, specifically for preventing AMR, are currently under development by authorities but the Nyex™ process was efficient in removing several tested contaminants to below the limits of detection.
The DOC2C’s consortium consists of PWN Technologies R&D (NL), South West Water (UK), De Watergroep (BE), Lille University (FR) and Delft University of Technology (NL).
