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Pharmaceutical and chemical wastewater generally includes organic wastewater discharged during the production process of the pharmaceutical intermediates industry, pharmaceutical API synthesis industry, and pharmaceutical preparation industry. This type of wastewater not only has a high concentration of organic matter but also contains substances that are toxic to organisms as. With the acceleration of my country's industrialization process, the discharge of this type of wastewater is increasing, which has caused severe pollution to our environment and threatened human life and health. Since this type of wastewater has a complex composition, extremely high concentration, substantial toxicity to microorganisms, and is difficult to biodegrade, conventional sewage treatment technology is powerless against this type of wastewater.

Table of contents（Click to go to where you want to see）

4.1 Physical processing technology

4.1.1 Traditional physical processing technology ( Our company’s main products and cases)

4.1.2 New physical processing technology

4.1.2.1 Magnetic separation method

4.1.2.2 Ultrasonic method

4.1.2.3 Non-equilibrium plasma treatment method

4.2 Chemical treatment technology
4.2.1 Traditional chemical treatment techniques

4.2.2 New chemical processing technology

4.3 Biological treatment technology

4.3.1 Anaerobic treatment

4.3.2 Aerobic treatment

4.4 Other processing technologies

5. Problems that need to be studied and solved in pharmaceutical and chemical wastewater treatment technology

What is pharmaceutical and chemical wastewater?

Pharmaceutical and chemical companies produce many drugs, including Chinese herbal medicines, antibiotics, organic drugs, and inorganic drugs. Different market demands and production technologies result in different outputs of various pharmaceuticals, and the resulting chemical wastewater has more complex components.

From the perspective of pharmaceutical and chemical enterprises, the production process of pharmaceuticals can be divided into two categories: biopharmaceuticals and chemical pharmaceuticals. Biopharmaceuticals use grain as raw materials and achieve drug synthesis through organic fermentation and refining, while chemical pharmaceuticals use chemical reactions. Realize the synthesis of drugs. The production process of chemical drugs is complex, the production scale is large, and the recycling efficiency is low, which will lead to a large amount of medical waste, and a large number of by-products will also be produced during the pharmaceutical production process. Inorganic salts, COD, BOD5, toxic substances, etc., exist in large quantities in wastewater, making chemical wastewater treatment face enormous challenges. Therefore, pharmaceutical and chemical enterprises must classify wastewater and take corresponding treatment measures to ensure their discharge meets the national standards for industrial water pollutants.

What are the main sources of pharmaceutical and chemical wastewater?

Production process wastewater

Production process wastewater is the wastewater generated during pharmaceutical production. It is the main component of chemical wastewater, including mixed preparation wastewater, extraction wastewater, traditional Chinese medicine wastewater, fermentation wastewater, biochemical engineering wastewater, and chemical synthesis wastewater. It is one of the difficulties in wastewater treatment.
Equipment flushing wastewater

Workers often have to clean pharmaceutical production facilities in pharmaceutical production, which generates equipment flushing wastewater. Equipment flushing wastewater includes wastewater generated from cleaning devices and cleaning floors.
Equipment cooling water

Most disinfection equipment, refrigeration equipment, and water circulation systems undergo cooling processing, during which a large amount of refrigeration wastewater is formed.
Domestic sewage

Most of this wastewater comes from workers’ daily lives, and the treatment process is relatively simple.

Characteristics of wastewater from pharmaceutical and chemical enterprises

The wastewater generated by pharmaceutical and chemical enterprises includes organic wastewater discharged during the production process of the pharmaceutical intermediates industry, pharmaceutical raw material synthesis industry, and pharmaceutical preparation industry. A large number of research results show that pharmaceutical and chemical wastewater mainly contains the following types of typical pollutants:

(1) Halogenated compounds. Generally, the more halogen atoms in the compound, the worse the biodegradability;

(2) Compounds containing nitro, nitroso, and azo groups are generally complex and can be degraded by microorganisms. They can be reduced by reduction treatment. It is converted into other compounds for biodegradation;

(3) Hydrocarbon compounds. Simple hydrocarbon compounds have poor biodegradability, while long carbon chain aliphatic hydrocarbons are relatively easy to degrade, and aromatic compounds have better stability, so the degradation rate is slower;

(4) Ether compounds, which are generally non-degradable;

(5) Water-soluble polymer compounds. Generally, the larger the molecular weight of such compounds, the worse the biodegradability.

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How to treat wastewater from pharmaceutical and chemical enterprises

Pharmaceutical and chemical enterprises are fine chemical enterprises with more severe water pollution. Due to differences in production processes and operation methods, wastewater types and treatment methods differ. At present, water pollution control technologies for pharmaceutical and chemical enterprises mainly include the following categories:

Physical processing technology

Physical treatment technology mainly uses physical principles to treat insoluble and suspended pollutants in wastewater. Traditional physical treatment methods include air flotation, gravity sedimentation, adsorption, and filtration. New physical treatment technologies include magnetic separation, sonic, and non-equilibrium plasma technology.

Traditional physical processing technology

The air flotation method is earlier. It mainly uses surface tension to agglomerate bubbles and pollutant particles scattered in the water to form particles with an overall density smaller than that of water, thereby floating to the water's surface to achieve the purpose of water purification.

Air flotation can be divided into medicated air flotation and dissolved air flotation. This method has the advantages of a simple process, a small occupation area, and a slight mud discharge.

Gravity sedimentation is a simple and practical wastewater treatment method. The core of this method is to use gravity to achieve water purification purposes. The gravity sedimentation method can be divided into free sedimentation, flocculation sedimentation, hindered sedimentation, and compression sedimentation.

In addition, there are mainly adsorption methods and filtration methods. The adsorption method primarily uses porous adsorption materials to gather slightly dissolved substances to achieve the purpose of purification. The adsorption method involves physics, chemistry, molecules, and ions. Commonly used adsorbents include fly ash, activated carbon, ion exchange resin, and macroporous resin. Among them, activated carbon and macroporous resin have the best adsorption effect and are suitable for various applications. Organic wastewater can recover valuable organic matter, and the treatment efficiency is relatively high. The operation is more flexible. Filtration is also a process of using unique materials to intercept wastewater. Commonly used filter materials include anthracite coal particles, ore particles, quartz sand, artificially produced ceramsite filter materials, porcelain particles, fiber balls, etc. Among them, quartz sand and anthracite coal are The most widely used.

Application case(Preprocessing-physical method)

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Case Studies-Suma Park North Wastewater Treatment Plant Project

This case introduces the Suma Park North Wastewater Treatment Plant Project, which uses a C-AAO combined biochemical pool + micro-flocculation filtration process, and the drainage complies with the town Class A standard. The raw water is treated with high-efficiency dissolved air flotation produced by our plant to remove more than 90% of SS. The reduced concentration of suspended solids can reduce the treatment load of the combined biochemical pool and improve the treatment efficiency.

Case Studies-Composite Wastewater Treatment

In this case, Jiangsu Fengmang Compound Material sewage treatment project, we used the high-efficiency dissolved air flotation produced by our factory to remove most of the suspended impurities, and the effluent was sent to biochemical treatment, achieving good results.

Case Studies-Resin Material Recycling Project

This project case introduces that the wastewater discharged by HANGZHOU ELECTROCHEMICAL NEW MATERIAL CO., LTD. during the production of PVC raw materials also contains a small amount of PVC fine particles. After the wastewater is pH-adjusted, coagulated, and flocculated, the fine particles are aggregated into larger flocs and recycled using high-efficiency dissolved air flotation, achieving good results.

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New physical processing technology

Magnetic separation method

It is a type of technology that uses the magnetism of wastewater impurities to achieve separation purposes. Wastewater treated with a magnetic field has a memory effect, and its optical properties, conductivity, dielectric constant, viscosity, chemical reaction, surface tension, adsorption, cohesion, and electrochemical impact can be maintained for hours or days. The separation method has the advantages of simple structure, easy maintenance, small footprint, and relatively low operating costs.
Ultrasonic method

It is a process that uses ultrasonic waves of different frequencies to separate halogenated hydrocarbons, phenols, alcohols, aromatic compounds, pesticides, and other refractory organic matter in wastewater. Ultrasonic systems, reactor structures, catalysts, dissolved gas, pH values, etc., mainly affect wastewater treatment using sonic technology. Ultrasonic technology can be used alone or with other sewage treatment technologies to degrade and remove pollutants.
Non-equilibrium plasma treatment method

It mainly uses plasma to oxidize organic pollutants. It uses high-voltage pulse waves to generate plasma in pharmaceutical and chemical wastewater. The generated plasma is combined with the organic chemicals in the wastewater to produce oxidative degradation. The non-equilibrium plasma water treatment method has the advantages of high efficiency and no secondary pollution. It also combines the comprehensive effects of photochemical oxidation, high-energy electrons, supercritical water oxidation, etc., so it has wide application and good development prospects.

Chemical treatment technology

Chemical treatment technology mainly refers to the use of chemical reactions between organic or inorganic substances to add specific chemical substances to wastewater according to the types of pollutants in sewage to achieve the purpose of purifying water quality. Traditional chemical methods mainly include coagulation, neutralization, electrolysis, and chemical oxidation methods. New chemical methods include various types of electrochemical oxidation methods.

Traditional chemical treatment techniques

The coagulation method uses coagulants to aggregate colloidal, difficult-to-settle particles in the water through destabilization, bridging, and other reactions and then separates the pollutants through sedimentation or flotation. Efficient coagulants and optimal conditions enable rapid clarification of treated wastewater. Currently, inorganic coagulants are widely used because of their comprehensive sources and low prices.

The neutralization treatment method mainly neutralizes excess acid or alkali in pharmaceutical and chemical wastewater by adding a neutralizing agent. The pretreatment of wastewater generally adopts a neutralization treatment method, which can be carried out continuously or intermittently.

At present, the most commonly used electrolysis method to treat pharmaceutical and chemical wastewater is the iron filing electrolysis method. The internal electrolysis method of iron filings results from the synergistic effect of multiple mechanisms, including the reduction of ferrous ions and new ecological hydrogen, the coagulation of ferrous hydroxide, and the conductivity and adsorption of activated carbon. It also provides a breeding ground for microorganisms and raw materials. The weak current of the battery stimulates microbial metabolism and the degradation of organic matter.

Traditional chemical treatment technologies also include chemical oxidation methods, which include ozone, hydrogen peroxide, and other oxygen-containing compounds. In wastewater treatment, they can directly oxidize organic pollutants to achieve purification purposes. The most widely used one is ozone oxidation.

New chemical processing technology

The principle of the electrochemical oxidation method to treat pharmaceutical and chemical wastewater is to use light, electricity, magnetism, and other oxidation technologies to cause the organic pollutants to undergo oxidation-reduction reactions and be removed. At the same time, non-toxic reagents convert incompatible substances in the wastewater into Substances that dissolve in each other.

Aromatic compounds in pharmaceutical and chemical wastewater are generally treated by electrochemical oxidation, which destroys their molecular structure and makes them easily soluble in other substances. In recent years, photochemical oxidation technology has been widely studied, and it is currently in the perfection stage and has not yet been truly practical.

Biological treatment technology

The main principle of biological treatment technology is to use the metabolism of microorganisms to degrade and oxidize organic matter in wastewater. When carrying out biological treatment, it is necessary to artificially create an environment that is more conducive to the growth and reproduction of microorganisms so that microorganisms can proliferate in large quantities, thereby improving the efficiency of microorganisms in oxidizing and decomposing organic matter.

Biological treatment technology is the most widely used in pharmaceutical and chemical wastewater treatment. Biological treatment technologies include anaerobic and aerobic biological treatment methods, of which aerobic biological treatment methods include the activated sludge method, biofilm method, and composite biological treatment system.

Anaerobic treatment

Anaerobic treatment is when various microorganisms combine to decompose organic matter in wastewater and eliminate gas under anaerobic conditions. Currently, high-speed anaerobic reactors represented by UASB can treat wastewater concentration range: COD is 500 ~ 60000 mg/L, temperature range is 28 ~ 38 °C, and volume load is 12 ~ 25 kgCOD/m3·d.

Research on anaerobic treatment technology is developing in the direction of UASB reactor operation at low temperatures, high-temperature anaerobic treatment, wastewater treatment containing high-concentration toxic substances, and anaerobic treatment of low-concentration wastewater. The anaerobic treatment method has the advantages of low energy consumption, small floor space, good dehydration performance, and the ability to treat high-concentration sewage without dilution water.

Aerobic treatment

The activated sludge method is the most widely used aerobic biological treatment technology for wastewater. There are many operating modes, including the traditional activated sludge method, pure oxygen aeration activated sludge method, and high-load sludge method.
The primary conditions for the operation of the activated sludge system include:

The wastewater must contain enough nutrients necessary for the physiological activities of microorganisms;
The sludge needs to be in a suspended state and entirely in contact with the wastewater;
The activated sludge needs to be continuously returned, and the remaining sludge must be removed promptly;
No harmful substances are allowed to enter. The biofilm method is another aerobic biological treatment method alongside the activated sludge method, except that microorganisms grow in the mucous membrane of the surface. The biofilm method has short processing time, small floor space, simple operation and management, easy maintenance, and multiple purification functions.

Research into hybrid biological treatment systems has been ongoing for approximately 20 years. According to the type and size of the carrier filler and the way the filler is combined with the aeration tank, it can be divided into three categories: submerged filler system, a system incorporating a biological turntable with an aeration tank, and multi-air suspended carrier system. The compound biological treatment system operates stably and reliably, is strongly resistant to impact loads, and can effectively remove nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients. It is an efficient sewage treatment process.

Other processing technologies

Medical chemical wastewater treatment will also apply some other combined technologies. For example, in the biochemical process of diluting incoming water, some pharmaceutical and chemical companies often directly use diluted water to reduce the concentration of toxic substances in the incoming water in wastewater treatment projects, thereby reaching a concentration that allows microorganisms to grow and then use biochemical treatment technology to treat it—corporate wastewater. The dilute feed water biochemical process is a simple and direct method to operate and manage. In addition, bioaugmentation technology adds high-efficiency strains. This technology is to add microbial strains to the biological treatment system. The added strains have high-efficiency degradation capabilities, which can significantly improve and enhance the biological treatment system's ability to treat toxic organic matter—the treatment effect of pollutants.

Problems that need to be studied and solved in pharmaceutical and chemical wastewater treatment technology

Pharmaceutical and chemical wastewater treatment technologies often suffer from the problems of significant investment and high cost.

1. Many new technologies are currently being applied in practice, but they require significant investments and high costs, which affect the application of new technologies. Although individual technologies are promoted and used, they cannot operate effectively due to high costs.

2. The problem of disconnection between experimental research and practical application. Some new technologies have achieved relatively successful application results in experimental research, but in the actual wastewater treatment process, some difficulties have arisen and are challenging to implement.

3. In pharmaceutical and chemical wastewater treatment technology, it is necessary to solve the problem of how the treatment technology can adapt to the changes in water quality concentration and composition of the pharmaceutical and chemical wastewater and to solve the problem of high treatment difficulty effectively.

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