Pharmaceutical Industry

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Safe and efficient treatment of
pharmaceutical wastewater

Pharmaceutical production generates wastewater containing high concentrations of organics, solvents, antibiotics, and residual active compounds.
Deepflow provides complete solutions to handle these challenging streams, combining physical-chemical pretreatment, membrane separation, and vacuum evaporation for reliable, compliant, and sustainable operation.

Our systems are designed to meet the strictest discharge limits and GMP environmental standards. Whether the process involves chemical synthesis, fermentation, or washing of equipment and containers, Deepflow ensures that the effluent is treated safely — protecting both the environment and product integrity.

In particular, Aevya evaporators efficiently concentrate streams containing high organic or saline loads, while Seltra membrane systems remove residual compounds for reuse or compliant discharge.
For high-volume, diluted wastewater from cleaning operations, PFET polymer-film evaporators offer excellent performance with corrosion-resistant polymer heat exchangers, ideal for aggressive or variable compositions.

Sustainable water management and regulatory compliance

Our integrated approach allows pharmaceutical facilities to:

· Achieve up to 95% water recovery through multi-stage treatment

· Eliminate or concentrate active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and solvents

· Reduce COD and TOC to meet or exceed discharge regulations

· Reuse purified distillate in non-critical process steps

· Support GMP, EPA, and local environmental compliance standards

Typical wastewater sources

Reactor and vessel washing water
Fermentation and synthesis process effluents
Solvent washing and recovery residues
Laboratory and pilot-scale discharge
API crystallization and filtration washing streams

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Process flow

1. Equalization and buffering → homogenization and pH control

2. RaeX pretreatment → removal of solids and organics by coagulation/flocculation

3. Evaporation and concentration
• Aevya series for concentrated organic/saline streams
• PFET series for large volumes from cleaning operations

4. Seltra membrane polishing → UF/RO for advanced purification

5. RedGan drying → dewatering of solid residues

6. Distillate reuse → internal water recycling for non-GMP applications

Your advantages at a glance

Compliance with GMP and environmental discharge limits
High efficiency in removing active ingredients and antibiotics
PFET technology for large-scale cleaning wastewater treatment
Up to 95% water recovery, reduced disposal costs
Optional Super Duplex 2507 / Titanium Grade 2 materials for aggressive media
Modular, compact design with fully automated control

Recommended products

DES – Single-effect, steam/waste heat
DEH – Single-effect, heat pump
DE2S – Multi-effect, steam/waste heat
DE2H – Multi-effect, heat pump
DEP – PFET polymer film evaporator
DUF-Ultrafiltration (UF) systems
DRO-Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems
DJY – Chemical dosing skid
DPFR – Pipe flocculation reactor skid
DYS – Horizontal dryer with scraper, steam/hot water

Q&A

Q

Can overdosed antiscalants increase fouling in flocculation systems?

A

Yes. Excess or incompatible antiscalants may precipitate or interfere with proper floc formation.

Q

What are the main causes of unwanted precipitation or scaling in clarification systems?

A

These can result from pH variations, excessive chemical dosing, incompatibility between reagents, or supersaturation conditions.
Q

What SDI value is acceptable for water entering a chemical-physical pretreatment system?

A

An SDI value of 3 or lower is recommended to prevent clogging and excessive particulate fouling.

Q

How does pH affect coagulation and what is the correct dosing sequence?

A

pH strongly influences coagulant efficiency; many coagulants such as iron or aluminum salts perform best within a specific range.In some cases, alkalinity is added before the coagulant to stabilize the optimal pH.
Q

How can I request a chemical-compatibility test or process consultation?

A

Requests can be sent via the Support & Download section of the Deepflow website or by email to service@deepfloweco.com.The technical team assists with sampling, lab testing, and chemical optimization.

Q

Can one RaeX unit manage multiple treatment lines?

A

Yes. RaeX can be configured with automatic valves and multiple tanks to treat several wastewater lines or washing cycles in parallel.