Efficient decomposition of pharmaceuticals through ozonisation

Paul Boughton
Roche AG commissioned EnviroChemie to develop a new procedure for a new production facility in Mexico, which prevents the undesired release of ecotoxicologically contaminating drugs into the environment and eliminates pharmaceuticals in the wastewater directly at the point of origin, even before they enter the general sewage treatment plant.

In the first step, the three different methods UV/H2O2 oxidation, ozone oxidation and adsorption on activated carbon were tested on a laboratory scale, and evaluated with regard to ecological and economical aspects.

When comparing the validated procedures, ozonisation in this special case proved to be the most effective method, in order to efficiently destroy the active ingredients in the wastewater safely and completely.

Based on these results, EnviroChemie designed a large-scale technical plant in the second step and implemented it. The system is equipped with software, which enables simple operation of all installed elements and allows visualisation of the complete. Automatic control of the ozone concentration in the wastewater ensures the need-based application of the ozone

The tests for eliminating the pharmaceuticals on a laboratory scale have shown that a reliable system is available with the patented Envochem technology, which can completely decompose residual drugs in the wastewater.

Enter 54 or at www.engineerlive.com/epe

EnviroChemie GmbH is based in Rossdorf, Germany. www.envirochemie.com

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