Treatment Methods for Waste Water from Pharmaceutical Production    

Since the 1990's the pharmaceutical industry has developed rapidly, bringing human's health with a good assistance. The waste water from pharmaceutical production has, however, brought heavier and heavier pollutions to the environment, which has also brought serious threats to human's health. Typically the waste water discharged by pharmaceutical producers featured with complicated composition, high concentration, heavily colored and high potency. Many organic pollutants contained in the water are difficult to be decomposed through biological methods, and can stay in the environment for many years. Common treatment methods are nearly invalid to such complicated waste water. There are five effective treatment methods developed now in China.

A. Catalytic oxidation method
Under assistance of catalyst, the organics in waste water can be oxidized into small molecular, then into carbon dioxide and water, making COD decrease substantially. Then the oxidized waste water can be further biologically decomposed and finally reach the discharge standards.
   For instance, metal oxides carried by active carbon can be selected as catalyst, chlorine dioxide can replace sodium chlorite as oxidizer. The treatment cost is very low and there is no occasion for formation of poisonous methane trichloride in treatment.

B. Electrolysis method    
Here waste water is used as electrolyte solution. Dust ferrous and graphite are used as negative electrode and positive electrode respectively. Hydrogen generated in the positive electrode can reduce heavy metal ion and organic pollutants. The ferrous ion generated in the negative electrode can form a polymerized colloid that can form deposit with pollutants together. After electrolysis, the bio-decomposition of waste water becomes easier.

C.  Adsorption method
Adsorbing agents such as active carbon and sulfonated coal can be used to adsorb pollutants contained in waste water. Active carbon has strong ability to adsorb organic pollutants as well as mercury, lead and other heavy metal compounds in water. Excellent performance and easy operational function make active carbon dominate other adsorbing agents in treating with waste water from pharmaceutical production. However, high expensive inhibits its application. Many research institutes are keen to replace active carbon with brown coal, breeze, slag and coal ash as absorbing agent, while key issue are addressed to the renewal of adsorbing agents.    

D. Coagulation settling method
Coagulation is a common and important procedure in water treatment. The selection of coagulation agent against composition of waste water is a key factor.  


E. Anaerobic biodegradation method
Anaerobe can transform organic pollutants into inorganic and cell substances without assistance of oxygen. This method is not only effective to organics containing waste water but also able to reproduce energy.