The presence of recalcitrant compounds in wastewater and the inefficiency of conventional treatment technologies in their removal make it necessary to investigate and apply new removal systems. The use of reusable catalysts is key from both environmental and economic perspectives. Magnetite-based nanomaterials enable the separation of nanoparticles from effluents and maintain high removal rates due to their large reaction surfaces. Investigations into the formulation of these nanocomposites open up new research possibilities by tailoring the base materials to improve kinetics.

The BioGroup technology is currently at the Technology Readiness Level 7 (TRL-7) of designing and operating a pilot-scale reactor in a decentralized wastewater treatment plant. Since the joint removal of pharmaceuticals and pathogens was demonstrated in lab-scale and benchtop reactors, the development of a pilot-scale reactor operation is under investigation.