Hoffmann-La Roche - Ozone oxidation for the elimination of active pharmaceutical ingredients from wastewater - Case Study

Hoffmann-La Roche has set up a new facility in Toluca, Mexico for the production of two highly effective cancer treatment drugs. The wastewater generated in this context poses an ecotoxicological risk. Therefore, it needs to be eliminated at the source.

Various methods were tested and evaluated from an ecological and economic perspective.

According to preliminary studies, the best way to eliminate the active pharmaceutical ingredients is to use ozone. This involves adding ozone to the wastewater so that the active ingredients (Capecitabin and Mycophenolatmofetil) oxidise. The process was developed by EnviroChemie on a laboratory scale using original substances, and subsequently implemented on a large scale.

Requirements of the wastewater treatment plant to be created:

• Reliable results,
• Very high operational safety,
• High degree of automation,
• Compact overall construction for the treatment plant,
• Limited handling of chemicals,
• Generation of as little waste as possible.

The complete plant was delivered to Mexico pre-assembled inside a 6 m long housing module and ready for immediate use. Up to 10 m3 of wastewater is generated every day. The wastewater treatment plant is in operation around the clock.

Completion date: 2008