Generation of small molecule from pharmaceuticals waste via thermochemical conversation

In the shadow of a worldwide pandemic, the importance and need for pharmaceutical research is abundantly clear. In Canada alone, 25 billion units of pharmaceuticals are dispensed every year, and of that 30% of the total product ends up as waste, about 1.1 million kilograms per year. How these pharmaceuticals are wasted has impacts both economically and environmentally. Thermochemical conversion is a method to thermally decompose the waste pharmaceuticals in order to convert them into high value added materials. This process leads to obtain a carbon based material called char and a rich oil. Char is high surface material which can be utilize in lots of application such as water/air treatment etc. On the other hand, the generated oil has shown a great potential for recovering the pharmaceutical precursors.

Faculty Supervisor:

Stephanie MacQuarrie

Student:

Partner:

UnBound Chemicals Inc

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

Cape Breton University

Program: