Biochar filtration of drug-resistant bacteria and active pharmaceutical ingredients to combat antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health concern, with 1.27 million direct deaths from bacterial drug-resistant infections in 2019. To combat AMR, innovative solutions are needed, including waste lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) conversion into biochars. A bespoke pyrolysis reactor showed that production conditions significantly affect the sequestration of clinical bacterial isolates, removing up to 94% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa RP73 and 85% of Staphylococcus aureus EMRSA-15. Higher peak pyrolysis temperatures can remove up to 88% of antibiotic clarithromycin from wastewater.