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Treatment of Microplastics from Pharmaceutical Industrial Wastewater
Summary
Pharmaceutical manufacturing generates wastewater containing microplastics from plastic equipment, packaging, and processing materials, a source of contamination that surged during the COVID-19 pandemic as drug production ramped up. This review examines the nature of microplastic contamination in pharmaceutical wastewater and evaluates treatment techniques for removing these particles before discharge. Addressing this overlooked industrial source is important for reducing microplastic loads entering water systems from healthcare and pharmaceutical infrastructure.
The ubiquity of microplastics in the effluents produced during pharmaceutical manufacturing operations has made the presence of these particles in pharmaceutical industry wastewater a significant environmental concern. The growing importance of the pharmaceutical sector emphasizes even more how urgent it is to address microplastic contamination as a serious environmental issue that has to be addressed right now and requires the application of efficient mitigation techniques. During the pandemic, a significant increase in microplastics was found in pharmaceutical industry trash. It is imperative to address the issues brought on by the varied makeup of microplastics obtained from the pharmaceutical sector. Identification and classification procedures become more difficult when polymers are added to medication formulations, packaging materials, and equipment because they combine to generate a complex mixture of microplastics. Investigating tactics that combine bio-based adsorbents with nanomaterials is crucial since these methods have shown promise in lab settings and may be solutions. Present wastewater treatment techniques, such as membrane filtration, activated carbon adsorption, and ultrasonic degradation, have the potential to enhance efficacy of removal of microplastic from wastewater. They do, however, have limits in terms of completely getting rid of microplastics. For example, ozonation can change a polymer’s structure without appreciably lowering the presence of microplastic residues. Thus, more sophisticated approaches have been devised to intensify the treatment of microplastics, such as the utilization of magnetic polyoxometalate-supported ionic liquid phases. The treatment of microplastics from pharmaceutical industry effluent necessitates a thorough and interdisciplinary approach, as this chapter emphasizes. Through the adoption of technological innovations, strict regulations, and sustainable practices, the pharmaceutical business may effectively contribute to reducing the environmental impact of microplastics and promoting a cleaner, more sustainable future.