10.4 Case Studies
Nowadays, photo-oxidation technologies are also extensively employed by
renowned pharmaceutical companies for the remediation of wastewater. A few
examples that have been discussed below elucidate potential and practical implementation of UV-oxidation processes by Merck & Co., BASF, and
GlaxoSmithKline.
10.4.1 Merck & Co.
Merck & Co. is one of the world’s largest American pharmaceutical companies
established in 1891 as the US subsidiary of the German company. The pharmaceutical manufacturing site of Merck KGaA in Altdorf, Switzerland, synthesizes an
antihypertensive containing a phenolic structure.
The production of this antihypertensive drug has led to water contamination. To
deal with this problem, the wastewater was initially collected and then transported to
incineration plant for treatment. Afterwards, by eliminating all solvents and all
aromatic structural compounds this wastewater was successfully treated (Sörensen
et al. 2015). In this way, toxicity was completely removed. In order to gain the best
quality water, the water was then passed from a recuperation system, which was
integrated into the UV plant. The whole system is fully incorporated into Merck’s
factory management and operated with minimum effort. The data from the treatment
at Merck Altdorf, Switzerland, is tabulated in Table 10.7. Utilization of this system
has proven to be an essential step for improvement of the environmental credential as
well as economic gains for Merck.
10.4.2 BASF
On April 6, 1865, BASF fully named as Badische Anilin und Soda Fabrik or in
English Baden Aniline and Soda Factory started its journey in Mannheim, a city
located in Germany. The headquarters of this company is situated in Ludwigshafen,
Germany and it operates in six integrated production sites. Today, this company is
the largest chemical producer in the world. They deal in different segments such as
chemicals, plastics, performance products, functional solutions, agricultural solutions, and oil and gas.
BASF has been involved in synthesizing chelating agents for detergents and
cleaners, pulp and paper and agriculture, but this synthesis has resulted in the
contamination of water and this wastewater has been found to contain EDTA.
The effluent of the EDTA-manufacturing line at BASF, Ludwigshafen showed a
completely bioavailable wastewater; however, it was found that even after the
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245
Nowadays, photo-oxidation technologies are also extensively employed by
renowned pharmaceutical companies for the remediation of wastewater. A few
examples that have been discussed below elucidate potential and practical implementation of UV-oxidation processes by Merck & Co., BASF, and
GlaxoSmithKline.
10.4.1 Merck & Co.
Merck & Co. is one of the world’s largest American pharmaceutical companies
established in 1891 as the US subsidiary of the German company. The pharmaceutical manufacturing site of Merck KGaA in Altdorf, Switzerland, synthesizes an
antihypertensive containing a phenolic structure.
The production of this antihypertensive drug has led to water contamination. To
deal with this problem, the wastewater was initially collected and then transported to
incineration plant for treatment. Afterwards, by eliminating all solvents and all
aromatic structural compounds this wastewater was successfully treated (Sörensen
et al. 2015). In this way, toxicity was completely removed. In order to gain the best
quality water, the water was then passed from a recuperation system, which was
integrated into the UV plant. The whole system is fully incorporated into Merck’s
factory management and operated with minimum effort. The data from the treatment
at Merck Altdorf, Switzerland, is tabulated in Table 10.7. Utilization of this system
has proven to be an essential step for improvement of the environmental credential as
well as economic gains for Merck.
10.4.2 BASF
On April 6, 1865, BASF fully named as Badische Anilin und Soda Fabrik or in
English Baden Aniline and Soda Factory started its journey in Mannheim, a city
located in Germany. The headquarters of this company is situated in Ludwigshafen,
Germany and it operates in six integrated production sites. Today, this company is
the largest chemical producer in the world. They deal in different segments such as
chemicals, plastics, performance products, functional solutions, agricultural solutions, and oil and gas.
BASF has been involved in synthesizing chelating agents for detergents and
cleaners, pulp and paper and agriculture, but this synthesis has resulted in the
contamination of water and this wastewater has been found to contain EDTA.
The effluent of the EDTA-manufacturing line at BASF, Ludwigshafen showed a
completely bioavailable wastewater; however, it was found that even after the
10 Photo-oxidation Technologies for Advanced Water Treatment
245