Title: Liquid effluent characterisation of laboratory and pharmaceutical industry: a Brazilian study

Authors: Valéria Camila De Lima Soares; Fabiana Cristina Lima Barbosa; Luiz Carlos Moutinho Pataca; Marcos Paulo Gomes Mol

Addresses: Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, PUC-MG, Brazil ' Unidade de Gestão Ambiental da Fundação Ezequiel Dias (FUNED), Brazil ' Diretoria de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento da Fundação Ezequiel Dias (FUNED), Brazil ' Diretoria de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento da Fundação Ezequiel Dias (FUNED), Brazil

Abstract: This paper evaluated a total of 27 physical-chemical parameters on liquid effluents generated in a pharmaceutical laboratory and industry located in Brazil. Thirty-six monitoring reports were used covering the period from January 2012 to November 2017 with a bimonthly sampling frequency corresponding to six reports each year. The parameters surfactants, aluminium, ammonia, sulphide, chemical oxygen demand and suspended solids were selected for a detailed analysis, as they presented at least one value above the standards established by the legislation - MLA. In addition to these parameters, biochemical oxygen demand was also studied in detail due to the high values observed. Results suggested a faster management way to control the effluent produced by training employees about procedures of chemical products use, including cleaning equipment and areas with the premises of keep segregation and add barriers in the sinks for solids removal.

Keywords: pharmaceutical industry; physical-chemical parameters; industrial liquid effluent.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2022.122676

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2022 Vol.29 No.3, pp.262 - 277

Accepted: 13 Apr 2020
Published online: 05 May 2022 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article