MUMBAI, India, June 22 -- Intellectual Property India has published a patent application (202641068872 A) filed by Dr. Nirmala Rajkumar; Dr. Arun Kumar Mishra; Dr. K. Vijai; Dr. L. Nagarajan; Dr. C. Jeevarathinam; and Dr. I. Mariyammal on June 01, 2026, for Enzyme-Mimicking Nano-Catalytic System For Selective Breakdown Of Pharmaceutical Residues In Wastewater.
Inventors include Dr. Nirmala Rajkumar; Dr. Arun Kumar Mishra; Dr. K. Vijai; Dr. L. Nagarajan; Dr. C. Jeevarathinam; and Dr. I. Mariyammal.
The application for the patent was published on June 12, 2026, under issue no. 24/2026.
Abstract: The present invention relates to an enzyme-mimicking nano-catalytic system for the selective degradation of pharmaceutical residues in wastewater. The system utilizes nano-engineered catalytic materials exhibiting artificial enzyme-like activities for efficiently decomposing persistent pharmaceutical contaminants such as antibiotics, hormones, analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and personal care compounds present in industrial, hospital, and municipal wastewater streams. The proposed system comprises a wastewater inlet unit, a nano-catalytic reaction chamber, oxidant injection mechanisms, sensing and monitoring modules, an intelligent control unit, and a treated water outlet section. The nano-catalysts may include iron oxide nanoparticles, cerium oxide nanoparticles, titanium dioxide nanoparticles, graphene-based composites, metal-organic frameworks, or other nanostructured materials capable of mimicking peroxidase, oxidase, catalase, or laccase enzyme activities. The nano- catalysts interact with oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide, dissolved oxygen, ozone, or persulfates to generate reactive oxygen species including hydroxyl radicals and superoxide radicals, which selectively degrade pharmaceutical contaminants into biodegradable or non-toxic compounds. The system further incorporates sensor-based monitoring and artificial intelligence-driven optimization for regulating oxidant dosage, catalyst activity, reaction conditions, and treatment efficiency in real time. The invention additionally supports catalyst recovery and regeneration mechanisms for repeated usage and reduced operational cost. IoT-enabled communication modules may also be integrated for remote monitoring and predictive maintenance. The proposed system provides high degradation efficiency, enhanced catalyst stability, low energy consumption, reduced sludge generation, and environmentally sustainable wastewater treatment suitable for pharmaceutical industries, hospitals, municipal wastewater treatment plants, and advanced environmental remediation applications.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
