Disposal of Pharmaceutical Wastewater by Combined Coagulation and Two-Stage ARB Process

An innovative process, combined coagulation and two-stage aged refuse bioreactor (ARB) process was introduced to treat pharmaceutical wastewater. The results showed that the combined process can efficiently degrade the pharmaceutical wastewater. As a primary treatment, coagulation process can partially remove contaminants of the wastewater. Further treatment of two-stage ARB can remove the contaminants thoroughly. The treatment efficiencies in the biodegradation process decreased with increase of hydraulic load. After primary treatment by coagulation, under the suggested conditions of wet/dry of 1:7, introduction time of 6 h and hydraulic load of 500 L/m³refuse/day, the effluent of two-stage ARB meets the national discharge standard of pharmaceutical industry in China. The combined process for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment is technically feasible and cost-effective. Biodegradation plays a key role in removal of contaminants in two-stage ARB process.