A Full-Scale Chemical/Biological Treatment System Application for the Wastewater Treatment of a Pharmaceutical-Capsule Production Industry-A Case Study

Gelatin is one of the most consumed colloid protein material in pharmaceutical, medical, food and military industries. Washing of machines and reactors in pharmaceutical hard gelatin capsules production factories produce a high strength colored wastewater with high COD and TSS concentrations, low pH and a high protein content. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of Iran Gelatin Capsule wastewater treatment plant (IGCWWTP) in terms of COD, TSS, ammonium, and phosphorus removal and chemicals and energy consumption. An intensive analytical program was followed for more than 600 days for monitoring IGCWWTP influent and effluent. This study revealed that average concentrations of COD, TSS, ammonium, and phosphorus removal in the effluent from the effluent plant were 41.8 mg/l, 9.1mg/l, 0.48 mg-N/l, 1.6 mg P-PO4, respectively. The average electricity consumption and potable water usage per influent wastewater flow rate were 0.33 kWh/m3 and 37 L/m3 , respectively. The average lime, PAC, and chlorine consumption per influent wastewater flow rate were 0.2 Kg/m3 , 0.05 Kg/ m3 , 0.0 Kg/m3 , respectively.