Active pharmaceutical ingredients: what they are and how to eliminate them from wastewater

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) stand among the most critical concerns in pharmaceutical wastewater management. These biologically active substances, fundamental to the manufacturing of medications, can cause considerable environmental damage when discharged into natural water bodies, even at trace levels. But what precisely are APIs, and why does their elimination matter so much?

Understanding APIs and their impact on the environment

APIs are substances responsible for the therapeutic effect of drugs. Designed to interact with specific biological targets in humans and animals, these compounds maintain their biological activity even after being released into the environment. When they reach aquatic ecosystems through industrial wastewater, they can cause harmful effects on aquatic flora and fauna, alter ecosystem balance, and contribute to the worrying phenomenon of antibiotic resistance.

The challenges of pharmaceutical wastewater treatment

Wastewater from the pharmaceutical industry has unique characteristics that make its treatment particularly difficult.. Each production site generates wastewater with specific compositions, requiring customised solutions. The presence of APIs, solvents, and other chemical compounds requires a combined treatment approach, combining various technologies to ensure effective removal of all contaminants.

Technological Solutions

Veolia leads the way in this field, providing a wide range of advanced solutions for API elimination:

• Evaporation: Evaporation technology not only reduces the volume of wastewater containing APIs by over 90%, but also allows for the recovery of reusable technical water, significantly contributing to the circular economy of the production process.
• MBBR: eXeno is an advanced biological solution that harnesses the power of specialised microorganisms and, through a multi-stage process, effectively degrades APIs and other organic compounds, ensuring high efficiency even at peak loads. Its flexibility makes it ideal for both new plants and for upgrading existing systems.
• Ozone: Ozone is one of the most powerful methods for treating the most stubborn APIs. Due to its strong oxidizing capacity, it can break down complex molecules into simpler, less toxic compounds. Its use, both as a primary treatment and as a final step, ensures outstanding results in the elimination of particularly persistent APIs.
• Clairaflocculation and activated carbon: Actiflo Carb combines accelerated clariflocculation with the use of powdered activated carbon. The result is an extremely efficient system for removing micropollutants, ensuring high performance with a small footprint.

The adoption of these advanced technologies enables pharmaceutical companies to guarantee compliance with increasingly strict environmental regulations and considerably lower disposal costs, while also offering the possibility of recovering and reusing water in the production process. This approach not only minimises environmental impact but also contributes to improving the company's overall sustainability.

Toward a more sustainable future

Responsible management of APIs in wastewater is not only a regulatory requirement but an ethical imperative for the modern pharmaceutical industry. Veolia's innovative technologies enable companies to combine production efficiency with environmental sustainability, protecting water resources for future generations.

Removing APIs from wastewater is a complex challenge that requires expertise, technology, and commitment. With the right solutions and an integrated approach to water treatment, this challenge can be transformed into an opportunity to innovate and improve the sustainability of the pharmaceutical sector.