Reduction of wastewater volume for a pharmaceutical industry player
Customer
The client is a leader in the pharmaceutical industry that produces chemo-therapeutic products
Objectives
Contain disposal costs and reduce the environmental impact of the production process by reducing the volumes of cytotoxic wastewater containing active components, often radioactive. It was not possible to treat or modify the radioactive components, but only to reduce the volume of water present.
01.
Opportunity
The customer had to manage significant volumes of wastewater containing active (often radioactive) chemotherapy components generated by washing production machinery with demineralized water.
These waters were disposed of through an external specialized company, with very significant costs and a negative environmental impact.
02.
Project
Analysis of wastewater components and feasibility study for the application of a vacuum evaporator conducted at the C&G laboratory.
Introduction of additional safety measures with the installation of an activated carbon filter to control the COD of the distillate before possible discharge into public sewers.
03.
Solution
Water treatment plant with a V-NT 2000 vacuum evaporator to be able to discharge the water into the sewer with complete safety.
Reduction of the volume of water to be disposed of.
Characteristics of the initial liquid
Color: Dark green to brown
PH: between 4.5 and 6
COD: between 40,000 and 135,000 mg/L
Characteristics of the distillate produced
Color: colorless
PH: between 6 and 7
COD: between 500 to 2,000 mg/L
Analysis of the results
The implementation of the V-NT 2000 vacuum evaporator has led to concrete and measurable results, improving both the economic efficiency and the environmental sustainability of the cytotoxic wastewater management process.
Thanks to the drastic reduction in disposal volumes and lower operating costs, the investment in the vacuum evaporator paid for itself in just 90 days, ensuring a rapid economic return for the pharmaceutical company.
The initial wastewater, characterized by a high polluting load and the presence of radioactive components, underwent a concentration process that significantly reduced the quantity of liquid to be disposed of. This led to:
- A reduction in the total volume of treated wastewater, limiting transport and management costs.
- A more easily manageable concentrate, containing the non-eliminable substances, efficiently separated from the liquid part.
The distillate produced by the evaporation process has undergone a significant qualitative improvement compared to the initial liquid:
- From a cloudy appearance and green-brown color, the treated liquid became clear and colorless, a sign of effective removal of contaminants.
- The pH was stabilized between 6 and 7, making the effluent less aggressive and more suitable for possible controlled discharge.
- COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) has dropped from a range of 40,000 – 135,000 mg/L to 500 – 2,000 mg/L, dramatically reducing the organic load in the water.
The adoption of the activated carbon filter as an additional safety measure has allowed to further reduce the COD of the distillate, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations for possible discharge into public sewers. This has reduced the environmental impact of the production process and improved the overall sustainability of the plant.
Thanks to this innovative solution, the pharmaceutical company was able to contain operating costs, minimize environmental risks and optimize the management of cytotoxic wastewater, while ensuring a more efficient and regulatory-compliant process.
Savings
Reduction of management costs
Circularity
Reuse of production water
Sustainability
Reducing environmental impact