The Processing of Biological Waste from the Pharmaceutical Industry

The pharmaceutical industry produces waste that can pose significant environmental and health risks if not handled properly. The aim of this research is to investigate the microfiltration (MF) method for the treatment of pharmaceutical waste mycelia (fermentation residue) and to test different operating conditions (different permeate flows, operating pressures, and treatment times) to identify and determine the optimum setting conditions. The products resulting from the best operating conditions permeate and retentate and were then subjected to further chemical characterisation. The results showed that the operation of the MF pilot plant, consisting of 4 sequentially coupled 0.1 µm ceramic ZrO2 membranes with a total membrane area of 56 m2, was optimal at a permeate flow of 1.2 m3/h (pressure of 2 bar, temperature of 60 °C) with a permeate flux of 21.4 L/(m2×h). Two different operating times (3.5 and 8 h) were tested under these conditions without any clogging of the membranes being detected, neither in the long nor in the short time of operation. The chemical analysis showed that MF is highly efficient in removing chemical oxygen demand (COD), which decreased by 67 %, although the removal of other small micropollutants was less efficient.