Membrane Technology for Treatment of Pharmaceutical Wastewaters: A Novel Approach

Abstract

It is estimated 90% of the available water resources will be expended in 15 years and by 2025, nearly 60% of the world population will have scarcity of water if the rate of consumption continues at its present level. The mounting use of pharmaceuticals, with enhanced production, have driven these industrial effluents into so-called emerging pollutants that have become a new environmental problem. Pharmaceutical wastewater, specifically categorized by complex components, are ending up polluting natural water bodies, making it necessary to remove such substances from the wastewaters to prevent harm to the natural environment. Amid options available for treating these effluents, biological processes are cost-effective and environmentally safe alternatives to chemical methods. One of the recent advances includes use of membrane technology. Among these, membrane bioreactor and reverse osmosis technologies are becoming advanced and promising options for wastewater treatment, and reuse at a reduced price is making it economically feasible.