Removing globally-used anxiety drug from recycled and wastewater at low cost

(University of Johannesburg) Researchers can now remove the anxiety drug Diazepam from recycled water and wastewater, using low-cost titanium dioxide nanofibers. First marketed as Valium, Diazepam is available in hundreds of brands. The drug is one of three benzodiapezines in the World Health Organisation list of essential medicines, but is also widely abused as an addictive prescription drug. In cities running out of water, removing pharmaceuticals from wastewater in a simple, low cost way is becoming a priority.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2EV4WCI