Review Article Open Access

CHARACTERISATION AND TREATMENT OF PHARMACEUTICAL R&D WASTEWATER

Abstract

A study was carried out on characterisation and treatment of wastewater discharged from a pharmaceutical R&D unit. The wastewater samples were collected from laboratory scale and pilot plant (scale-up) operations and analysed. Besides, combined wastewater samples were also collected and analysed. There is wide variation in waste characteristics due to the varied manufacturing operation/reactions employed. The combined waste exerts high BOD/COD value of 1385 mg/L and 5716 mg/L, respectively. The wastewater is treated in a full-fledged treatment plant comprising of equalisation, neutralisation, settling, extended aeration type biological treatment, pressure sand filtration and activated carbon filtration followed by a recycling plant with reverse osmosis and forced circulation mechanical evaporator. The wastewater samples were collected at various stages of treatment and results are presented.

M.GANDHIRAJAN, G.AMARNATH, P.KAVITHA AND RAKHEE BHAGAVATH

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