Other industry

Pharmaceutical wastewater treatment, micropollutants, process stability and compliance with the most stringent standards.

Scroll

Pharma

Pharmaceutical wastewater treatment, micropollutants, process stability and compliance with the most stringent standards.

Wastewater from the pharmaceutical sector is among the most demanding in terms of composition, variability, and environmental safety. It contains, among other things:

  • residues of active substances API
  • hormones and antibiotics
  • solvents and detergents
  • solid particles and colloids
  • high or extremely low pH values

EKO-CHEMIA provides advanced reagents and process support that increase purification efficiency, improve the stability of biological systems and help meet national and European requirements for the reduction of pharmaceutical contaminants.

Key challenges in the pharmaceutical industry

  • presence of poorly biodegradable micropollutants (API, hormones, antibiotics)
  • potential toxicity to activated sludge – risk of inhibition of biological processes
  • variability of wastewater parameters depending on production campaigns
  • process foams resulting from detergents, surfactants and CIP
  • high or low pH, need for precise neutralization
  • sanitary requirements, the need to disinfect and bring the sewage to discharge parameters
  • the highest requirements for the purity of process and circulating water

Typical forms of iron coagulants

Removal of micropollutants (APIs, hormones, antibiotics)
– pre-treatment

The most commonly used iron coagulant, ideal for phosphorus removal

Pharmaceutical wastewater often requires pre-treatment of contaminants prior to biological or advanced processes.

  • iron and aluminum coagulants to reduce micropollutants
  • organic coagulants and blends – improving clarification in difficult and toxic wastewater
  • activated carbon – adsorption of pharmaceutical substances
  • sorbents and aluminosilicates – selective capture of organic compounds

Effect

less load on the biological phase, increased AOP/UV effectiveness.

Protection of biological process

The most commonly used iron coagulant, ideal for phosphorus removal

Pharmaceutical wastewater often requires pre-treatment of contaminants prior to biological or advanced processes.

  • iron and aluminum coagulants to reduce micropollutants
  • organic coagulants and blends – improving clarification in difficult and toxic wastewater
  • activated carbon – adsorption of pharmaceutical substances
  • sorbents and aluminosilicates – selective capture of organic compounds

Effect

less load on the biological phase, increased AOP/UV effectiveness.

Dispersed Solids and Wastewater Flotation (DAF)

The most commonly used iron coagulant, ideal for phosphorus removal

Pharmaceutical wastewater often requires pre-treatment of contaminants prior to biological or advanced processes.

  • iron and aluminum coagulants to reduce micropollutants
  • organic coagulants and blends – improving clarification in difficult and toxic wastewater
  • activated carbon – adsorption of pharmaceutical substances
  • sorbents and aluminosilicates – selective capture of organic compounds

Effect

less load on the biological phase, increased AOP/UV effectiveness.

Sludge dewatering and thickening

The most commonly used iron coagulant, ideal for phosphorus removal

Pharmaceutical wastewater often requires pre-treatment of contaminants prior to biological or advanced processes.

  • iron and aluminum coagulants to reduce micropollutants
  • organic coagulants and blends – improving clarification in difficult and toxic wastewater
  • activated carbon – adsorption of pharmaceutical substances
  • sorbents and aluminosilicates – selective capture of organic compounds

Effect

less load on the biological phase, increased AOP/UV effectiveness.

Neutralization and pH control

The most commonly used iron coagulant, ideal for phosphorus removal

Pharmaceutical wastewater often requires pre-treatment of contaminants prior to biological or advanced processes.

  • iron and aluminum coagulants to reduce micropollutants
  • organic coagulants and blends – improving clarification in difficult and toxic wastewater
  • activated carbon – adsorption of pharmaceutical substances
  • sorbents and aluminosilicates – selective capture of organic compounds

Effect

less load on the biological phase, increased AOP/UV effectiveness.

Raw and process water treatment

The most commonly used iron coagulant, ideal for phosphorus removal

Pharmaceutical wastewater often requires pre-treatment of contaminants prior to biological or advanced processes.

  • iron and aluminum coagulants to reduce micropollutants
  • organic coagulants and blends – improving clarification in difficult and toxic wastewater
  • activated carbon – adsorption of pharmaceutical substances
  • sorbents and aluminosilicates – selective capture of organic compounds

Effect

less load on the biological phase, increased AOP/UV effectiveness.

Advanced purification technologies (level 4)

The most commonly used iron coagulant, ideal for phosphorus removal

Pharmaceutical wastewater often requires pre-treatment of contaminants prior to biological or advanced processes.

  • iron and aluminum coagulants to reduce micropollutants
  • organic coagulants and blends – improving clarification in difficult and toxic wastewater
  • activated carbon – adsorption of pharmaceutical substances
  • sorbents and aluminosilicates – selective capture of organic compounds

Effect

less load on the biological phase, increased AOP/UV effectiveness.

How we work with pharmaceutical companies

  • full wastewater characterization (API, toxic substances, N, P, XCOD, ZTO)
  • identification of stages requiring conditioning or biological protection
  • Beaker, dynamic and AOP/UV compatibility tests
  • technical tests on site (DAF, biological stages, dewatering)

Do you want to improve the efficiency of your pharmaceutical wastewater treatment?

One water. One trusted partner.