Researcher Al Said Al Shafey, from Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, intends to establish basis for 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 tonnes of date palm leaves are estimated to be produced annually in the country, the 'Times of Oman' reported.
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 the cheap dehydrated carbon from date palm leaves prove to be as efficient as activated carbon for removing pharmaceuticals and dyes.
The findings, according to Al Shafey, would be soon utilised in a pilot project in hospital waste water treatment.
Hospitals consume a significant amount of water in a day, ranging from 400 to 1,200 litres per day per bed.
It generates significant amounts of waste water usually loaded with microorganisms, heavy metals, hormones, radioactive isotopes and other impurities, the researchers said.
The main challenge of pharmaceuticals was that many of these substances are not easily biodegradable as they bypass the biological waste water treatment and become ubiquitous in the environment.
