Cleaning up solvents in pharmaceutical water flows more sustainably

Water used in the production processes of pharmaceuticals contain many elements that need to be removed before it can be discharged as waste water. Not only does this water contain drug residues, but also solvents used in the production of pharmaceutical compounds. To clean it, this water is usually treated with heat methods such as distillation and incineration. However, these methods require a considerable amount of energy. ‘Incineration leads to CO₂ emissions and significant costs, for instance for transportation and storage. So we need solutions to make this process more sustainable and cost friendly,' says Mattijs Julsing, researcher Microbial Cell Factories.

Julsing and his colleague Tania Mubita Zambrano, researcher Separation and Purification, propose a more sustainable approach to dealing with solvent-containing water. This involves adapting and combining known methods for treating wastewater such as membrane technologies and microbial degradation. Separation and purification with membranes allow certain substances to pass while retaining and concentrating others. This method effectively reduces the volume of contaminated water.

Breaking down with microorganisms

'After concentration, you have two options,” Mubita Zambrano explains, ‘you can either recover and reuse the solvents or break them down into less harmful substances.' Microorganisms play a crucial role in breaking down solvents, as they can extract their nutrients from the continaminated water. 'We can assemble a community of microorganisms that precisely breaks down the desired substance’, Julsing adds. ‘Microorganisms adapt quickly, so with the right selection pressure, they will do what you want them to do.'

That adaptability is useful, because each pharmaceutical company is different, as is their production water. Therefore Mubita Zambrano and Julsing start their research with an analysis of the water involved. Once it is clear which substances are present and in what concentration, they design a tailored solution based on one or both methods.

Economically viable

How does this benefit the pharmaceutical companies beyond sustainability? An important aspect lies in the economic viability of the treatment process. 'Ultimately, cost savings are the most compelling incentive for pharmaceutical companies,' says Julsing. 'They have to pay to get rid of their wastewater, and by making the process cleaner more efficiently and effectively, it becomes more cost-effective’. Mubita Zambrano adds: 'And, as regulations are expected to tighten in the future on which contaminants are allowed in waste water in which amounts, the economic advantages are likely to increase even further.’

Do you want to find out how your water can be managed more effectively and sustainably? For more information, contact Tania Mubita Zambrano.