Light and electricity could improve wastewater treatment

Researchers at TU Delft, working on the EU-funded SOLUTION project, developed a coating for a bismuth vanadate photoanode. With light and electrical input, the material can drive reactions that degrade certain wastewater contaminants, particularly pharmaceutical residues.
The team optimised the material and tested it with real wastewater. That matters because treatment plant effluent contains many substances that can interfere with reactions observed in the laboratory. In its 23 October 2026 summary, CORDIS reports improved performance and a clearer understanding of how material properties affect pharmaceutical removal.
This remains research and development. The technology is being explored as a possible complement to conventional treatment, not as a widely deployed replacement. Its public relevance lies in finding additional ways to reduce the release of micropollutants into aquatic ecosystems.
Source: CORDIS / SOLUTION project (2026-10-23).
Note: the cover is an AI-generated illustration; it does not document the project or people mentioned.