Waste in the pharmaceutical industry

Abstract

Waste waters from different pharmaceutical and chemical companies
provides the material for this work. The companies produce drugs,
diuretics, laboratory chemicals and others. They discharge both industrial
and human wastewater without or with treatment. Reduction of pollutants in
the wastewater down to permissible concentrations is necessary for the protection
of ground water and the environment. Analysis of the combined wastes
indicated that it is very acidic and contains high concentrations of organic
compounds and total solids. Antibiotics are one of a group of pharmaceutical
compounds that have been found in lakes and streams throughout the world
and the occurrence of these compounds in the environment has raised concerns
regarding the toxicity to aquatic organisms and the emergence of strains
of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Combined wastes were subject to different treatment
processes for final disposal into surface water, or reuse for irrigation
purposes. The biological treatments included activated sludge process, fixed
film reactor, and fixed film reactor followed by activated sludge process. Other
proccesses include the pre-oxidation of the wastewater. Technical feasibility
studies indicated that good quality effluent could be obtained using either
extended aeration or a fixed film reactor followed by activated sludge. Residual
BOD5, COD, oil and grease concentrations in the treated effluent were
complying with the National Regularity Standards. The aim of this work was
to offer a bring up to date about the wastes generated by the pharmaceutical
industry.