CHARACTERISTICS OF PHARMACEUTICAL WASTEWATER

The characteristics of pharmaceutical wastewater may vary depending on the type of

pharmaceutical products being manufactured or processed, the stage of production,
and the treatment processes employed. However, some typical characteristics of
pharmaceutical wastewater include:

1. High organic content - Pharmaceutical wastewater often contains high levels of

organic compounds, such as carbon measured in Total Organic Carbon (TOC), oxygen
measured in Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD),nitrogen, phosphorus etc and they are
pharmaceutical ingredients, solvents, and intermediates, which can be difficult to
biodegrade and pose a risk to aquatic life when released into the environment.
The high organic content in pharmaceutical wastewater typically comes from the
presence of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and their metabolites in the
waste stream. These compounds are often biologically active and can have toxic
effects on aquatic organisms if they are not adequately treated before being released
into the environment. It can also cause oxygen depletion in the receiving water bodies
leading to an imbalance in the ecosystem and harmful algal blooms and other bad
environmental impacts. Therefore, it is essential to properly treat pharmaceutical
wastewater to remove organic contaminants before discharge to protect aquatic life
and the environment.

2. High salinity - Some pharmaceutical wastewater may contain high levels of salts,
including sodium chloride and calcium chloride, which can increase the total
dissolved solids (TDS) and conductivity of the wastewater, making it more difficult to
treat.
The high salinity content in pharmaceutical wastewater may have various
implications, depending on the source of that salinity.

One way that saline wastewater may be generated is through the use of salts as part of
the manufacturing process for some pharmaceutical products. These salts can end up
in the wastewater as residues, leading to high salinity levels.

High salinity can have several effects, such as corrosion in processing equipment,
scaling in pipes, and damage to plumbing fixtures. Saline wastewater can also make it
challenging to recycle or reuse water, which can increase the overall water
consumption of a facility. Additionally, high salinity levels in wastewater can impact
the performance of biological treatment processes, leading to decreased removal rates
of organic pollutants. This, in turn, could increase the environmental impact of the
wastewater discharge.

Therefore, it is essential to monitor the salinity levels in pharmaceutical wastewater

and apply appropriate treatment technologies to remove any potential harm to the
environment and public health.
3. Heavy metals and other contaminants - Some pharmaceuticals may contain heavy
metals, such as mercury, cadmium, and lead, or other contaminants, such as residual
solvents, that can pose a risk to human health and the environment if not properly
treated.
The heavy metal in pharmaceutical wastewater refers to the presence of metal ions
such as cadmium, copper, lead, zinc, and mercury. These metals can be introduced
into the wastewater during the production of pharmaceutical products or as a result of
the disposal of unused drugs by consumers. Heavy metals in pharmaceutical
wastewater pose a significant threat to the environment and human health. They can
accumulate in aquatic plants and animals, leading to toxic effects as well as
potentially causing harm to human beings who consume these products. Additionally,
when discharged into the environment, these heavy metals can contaminate soil and
groundwater, leading to long-term environmental degradation. The treatment of
pharmaceutical wastewater to remove heavy metals is therefore critical to prevent the
environmental and health risks associated with their presence.
4. Low pH -Normally, pharmaceutical wastewater has a pH near neutral (7.0),
although it may vary between 6 and 8.But some pharmaceutical wastewater have a
low pH which may be lower than 6 due to the presence of acidic compounds, such as
sulfuric acid or hydrogen sulfide(H2S) in the water , causing a shift in the balance of
hydronium and hydroxyl ions(Trygar,2013).When pharmaceutical wastewater has a
low pH level, it means that the wastewater is acidic in nature and causes corrosion,
toxicity, reduced biological activity and interference with chemical treatment
(Jones,2020).This can have several implications and consequences:
Corrosion: Low pH wastewater can be corrosive to pipes, tanks, and other equipment
used for wastewater treatment and transport. This can lead to infrastructure damage
and increased maintenance costs.
Toxicity: Acidic conditions can enhance the toxicity of certain chemicals, metals, or
pharmaceutical compounds present in the wastewater. This can make the wastewater
harmful to aquatic life and the environment if discharged into water bodies without
appropriate treatment.
Reduced Biological Activity: Most biological treatment processes used for wastewater
treatment thrive under neutral to slightly alkaline pH levels. Low pH wastewater can
inhibit the activity of microbial communities responsible for breaking down organic
matter, resulting in reduced treatment efficiency.
Interference with Chemical Treatments: Some wastewater treatment methods, such as
precipitation or coagulation, rely on specific pH ranges for effective removal or
neutralization of contaminants. Low pH wastewater may require additional pH
adjustment or neutralization steps to optimize treatment processes.

To address the negative effects of low pH in pharmaceutical wastewater, proper

monitoring, pH adjustment, and neutralization techniques During the treatment
process, a variety of bases like sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) or acids like
hydrochloric acid can be added to control pH.are employed during wastewater
treatment processes. This helps ensure compliance with environmental regulations
and protection of public health and the environment.

5. Presence of antibiotics and hormones - Some types of pharmaceuticals, such as

antibiotics and hormones, can be difficult to remove through conventional wastewater
treatment processes and may pose a risk of promoting antibiotic resistance or
disrupting endocrine systems in aquatic organisms.

Overall, pharmaceutical wastewater is a complex mixture of organic and inorganic

compounds that requires specialized treatment processes to ensure safe discharge into
the environment.Antibiotic and hormone in pharmaceutical wastewater refer to the
presence of pharmaceuticals, specifically antibiotics and hormones, in wastewater
discharged by pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, hospitals, and other healthcare
facilities.

Antibiotics are medications used to treat bacterial infections. Frequent use of

antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine leads to the spread of antibiotic-resistant
bacteria into the environment.Antibiotic-resistant strains enter the environment
through human feces and the liquid manure of animals. Antibiotics consumption and
the increase of microorganisms’ resistance can be seen by higher concentrations in
wastewater, agriculture, livestock farming, and the human population [5,6,7].
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their genes are significantly emerging environmental
pollutants. The wastewater and sludge can be transmitted to agricultural land via
agricultural run-off into the aquatic ecosystem and poses the risk of transmission into
the food chain [8]. The prevalence of antibiotics in municipal wastewater and surface
waters can lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria due to long-term
exposure to low concentrations of antibiotics in the ng/L to μg/L range [9].However, a
significant amount of antibiotics used by humans and animals are excreted in urine
and feces, ultimately ending up in wastewater. The presence of antibiotics in
pharmaceutical wastewater can contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance
in bacteria, making it difficult to treat infections in the future.

Hormones, on the other hand, are regulatory substances produced by the body that
control various physiological processes. In pharmaceutical wastewater, hormones can
originate from the manufacturing process or from human waste. Some commonly
found hormones include estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. The presence of
hormones in wastewater can have adverse effects on aquatic organisms and disrupt
the normal functioning of ecosystems.

The high levels of antibiotics and hormones in pharmaceutical wastewater make it a

significant concern for both human health and the environment. Efforts are being
made to implement proper treatment methods to remove antibiotics and hormones
from wastewater before it is discharged into water bodies, ensuring the safety of
ecosystems and minimizing the potential for antibiotic resistance development.