The Removal of Pharmaceutical Residues in the C.R.O.P. ® - Biofilter

Abstract

The Combined Regenerative Organic food Production® - biofilter recycles human urine to a fertilizer-solution rich in nitrate as part of a bioregenerative life support system. Its goal is to grow crops without the need of fertile soil in future space missions. This study aims to investigate the ability of the biofilter to remove pharmaceutical residues and their metabolites from urine. It also considers the different ways in which the residues are removed. Therefore, the influence of the biofilm in the filters, the acidity of the filtrate, the adsorption to the biofilm carriers and the natural decay of the pharmaceuticals are studied by application of modified filter installations. Tested pharmaceuticals are carbamazepine, diclofenac, ibuprofen, sulfamethoxazole and amoxicillin. The results of this study prove the ability of the biofilter to remove pharmaceutical residues to different degrees, depending on the pharmaceutical. Additionally, they indicate that the biofilm in the filter plays the major role in the removal. The composition of the acidic filtrate also contributes to the removal of pharmaceuticals, whereas the adsorption to lava rocks as well as a natural decay are insignificant factors