Pharmaceutical Waste Treatment and Disposal of Concentrated Rejects: A Review

Efficient treatment of pharmaceutical waste is a big challenge because of the enormous quantity, complexity and hazardous nature. Lack of implementation of effective treatment technology aggravates the situations further in the countries facing the challenges of rising population, increasing urbanisation and industrialization generating enormous quantities of industrial wastes. This paper critically reviews the existing practices to suggest the best options. While the slow biological treatment schemes often fail to sustain microbial activity in presence of toxic components in concentrations, the other physico-chemical schemes often fall short of meeting the stringent regulations of waste discharge and disposal. Thermal incineration approach for sludge disposal has never been environmentally justified because of release of dioxin and indirect transfer of obnoxious substances. Emerging membrane-based schemes can be very compact, eco-friendly, small, flexible, economically viable, easy to install, operate and maintain.