Pharmaceutical Wastewater

Wet Air Oxidation of a Pharmaceutical Waste Stream
by David J. Best - Sterling Organics

In early 1990, ministers of the European countries on the North Sea declared that ocean disposal of industrial wastes should cease by the end of 1992. To comply with the mandate, the Sterling Organics' facility at Dudley, Northumberland, England, had to investigate treatment of a high-strength, highly colored para-aminophenol (PAP) wastewater generated in the production of the pain reliever Paracetamol.

They chose to use a wet air oxidation from Siemens Water Technologies (formerly USFilter). This paper discusses the treatment challenge, the decision to use wet air oxidation, and the treatment results.

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