.png)
The objectives of HSE Managers for industrial wastewater treatment plants
Downstream of the pharmaceutical industry, wastewater must be treated to increasingly meet discharge limits for surface water bodies.
In some cases, this involves organic compounds, including COD, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and within the COD, residual organic molecules of APIs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients).
MBBR Technology: A compact and efficient solution
Since the first pharmaceutical MBBR plant in 1997, Anoxkaldnes Veolia's biological technologies have evolved well beyond traditional suspended mass activated sludge plants. We're talking about MBBR (Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor), with biomass attached to a moving bed on carriers, which is mixed within the biological tank. A compact solution, ideal for industries with limited space. MBBR is a technology suitable for moderately or difficultly biodegradable APIs. There are also various upgrades of existing plants with CAS (Conventional Activated Sludge) converted with MBBR sections to specialize their efficiency.
Sustainable biological treatment
Biological treatment means that microorganisms work instead of chemical agents. It is the most sustainable path within BAT (Best Available Techniques) for treating biodegradable substances. In some pharmaceutical plants, MBBR eXenoTM technology (Ozone and MBBR) has been applied as a final polishing section for toxicity reduction of wastewater.
Case Study: Grindeks Plant for Meldonium Treatment
One example of MBBR technology in action is the Grindeks plant, where highly complex wastewater from Meldonium production is successfully treated. The wastewater of 200-500 m3/day is very complex with COD (2000-7000 mg/l), Nitrogen (100-200 mg/l), Total P 8 mg/l, TSS 50 mg/l, pH 4-10.
In every new project, the first activity is the analysis of composite samples collected on-site, filtered at 1.6 μm. The sampling frequency varies based on production batch scheduling. For example, 2 samplings/week for 4 weeks. Then in our laboratories, we create a scaled MBBR pilot plant, which is kept running for two months. Afterwards, the final plant is built.
In Grindeks, the plant has 5 MBBR sections in series to remove COD, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Phenols, thus a complete nitrification and denitrification plant. The different compartments normally found in a biological plant, with aerobic tanks in series with suspended biomass technologies, would all use the same type of microorganisms. Instead, with MBBR compartments, bacteria specialize for each type of contaminant. The first section removes readily biodegradable COD, followed by more difficultly biodegradable COD.
There are many other cases of moderately biodegradable compounds already treated: Ketoprofen (75% removal with MBBR, only 10% with CAS), Gemfibrozil (73% removal with MBBR, only 15% with CAS), and among the difficultly biodegradable: Clofibric Acid (25% removal with MBBR, only 8% with CAS), Diclofenac (22% removal with MBBR, only 4% with CAS).
Complementary Technologies for Complete Treatment
Veolia's know-how on pharmaceutical industrial wastewater treatment plants is completed by technologies for treating low-boiling compounds or antibiotics (e.g., Clindamycin, Gabapentin) with EvaledTM technology. For residues of hydrocarbon solvents used in synthesis processes, our MPPE (Macro Porous Polymer Extraction) technology is applied instead.
