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The invention ‘Bio-Sponge – indispensable for removing drugs and phenol in a wastewater treatment plant’ by researchers at the University of Silesia (UŚ) has won a gold medal at the INTARG International Invention and Innovation Fair.
Bio-Sponge is a biopreparation developed to help domestic and municipal wastewater treatment plants remove phenol and drugs such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Immobilised on a natural plant sponge, the bacteria guarantee long-lasting and effective elimination of pollutants.
The authors of the solution are scientists from the Faculty of Natural Sciences: Dr Anna Dzionek, Dr Agnieszka Nowak, Dr Danuta Wojcieszyńska and Dr Urszula Guzik. The invention was created as part of the project “Preparation stimulating degradation of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs based on immobilised bacterial strains on a natural carrier”, funded by the National Centre for Research and Development.