Ouagadougou:Grard Yves Sanou has earned his Doctorate in Chemistry at Joseph Ki-Zerbo University, focusing on Process Engineering - Water and Environment. He achieved this by detecting antibiotics in Ouagadougou's wastewater and demonstrating the effectiveness of activated charcoal from Typha Australis to eliminate them.

According to Burkina Information Agency, Sanou's thesis, titled "Characterization and elimination of pharmaceutical residues in the wastewater of the city of Ouagadougou by adsorption on activated carbons," outlines the risks posed by pharmaceutical residues in the environment, such as toxicity to aquatic life and humans, and the development of bacterial resistance.

Sanou identified average concentrations of several antibiotics in the wastewater and used the plant Typha Australis to create activated charcoals. These were tested for their ability to adsorb antibiotics, with TA-600 proving most effective. This method offers a sustainable solution for pollution control and limits the plant's proliferation in aquatic ecosystems.

Part of his research on ceftriaxone sodium was published in the journal Water Environment Research in 2026. The thesis defense jury praised Sanou's work, awarding him his doctorate. He plans further studies on the properties of TA-600 and its potential applications in removing other pollutants.