INTEGRATION OF TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPROVE THE PHARMACEUTICALS WASTE MANAGEMENT IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

An investigation was carried out to minimize the pollution load of pharmaceuticals industries by using integrated waste management technologies. Effluents were physically, chemically and biologically treated using three-stages advanced effluent treatment system. The dust particles were discharged to the atmosphere after filtration and the solid wastes were burnt in a pyrolytic incinerator at about 1100oC temperature. The physico-chemical characteristics of treated effluent were measured using Ultra Violet-Visible spectrophotometer and the emitted dust particles were analyzed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to determine the discharge amount. The biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total dissolved solid, chloride and sulphide contents of the treated effluent were found within allowable limit. The dust particles were also emitted to the environment below 0.5 mg/L. The solid wastes were reduced to 25% by volume after combustion. It was found that integrated waste management system of pharmaceutical industries can minimize the pollution load to ensure a safe ecological environment.