Waste Not, Want Not
Which techniques best remove residual pharmaceuticals from wastewater?
This article is part of our special focus on "traditional" pharma: The Small Molecule Manufacturer (read more here). You can find more articles from The Small Manufacturer here.
Researchers from the University of Buffalo and the Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences have identified two techniques – ozonation and the use of granular activated carbon — as being most effective in removing pharmaceuticals from wastewater (1). The techniques were shown to be able to remove up to 95 percent of drugs, including antibiotics and antidepressants. The widespread presence of pharmaceuticals in water sources has been a long-held concern for many within the scientific and environmental communities.
They are now turning their attention to addressing the secondary effects of using the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) techniques they investigated. For example, it’s possible that ozonation may introduce new compounds, including degradation by-products of pharmaceuticals.
- DS Aga et al. “Assessing pharmaceutical removal and reduction in toxicity provided by advanced wastewater treatment systems.” Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology. (2020)
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