Approximately 500 billion liters of water are used by pharma companies every year. Where traditional water purification methods leave a carbon footprint for future generations to suffer, sustainable water purification systems focus on minimizing consumption and reducing waste.
As environmental consciousness is rising more than ever, pharma companies that produce massive amounts of waste are looking forward to integrating these solutions and actively achieving their sustainable development goals.
If you wonder what are the critical features of sustainable systems, check the list below:
A sustainable water purification system is designed to consume less energy than traditional methods. One can also choose to power water purification systems with solar panels to save energy.
As we reduce the usage of harmful chemicals for water treatment, the efforts to treat wastewater will also be reduced. One can rely on ethylenediamine-N, N’-disuccinic acid (EDDS), a biodegradable chelating agent to bind and remove heavy metals from water. Unlike traditional chelating agents like EDTA, EDDS is more environmentally friendly as it breaks down more readily in natural environments.
Peracetic acid is another alternative to chlorine for disinfection. It is an organic peroxide compound highly effective against a broad spectrum of microorganisms. PAA breaks down into environmentally benign acetic acid (vinegar) and water, making it safer and greener.
Technologies like zero-liquid discharge (ZLD) ensure all water is treated and reused while leaving no waste behind. A zero-liquid discharge system can help you reduce water waste by up to 90%.
Simply switching to solar power, Pharma companies can reduce their carbon footprint by 50%. For example, a 100 kW solar installation can offset approximately 70 tons of CO₂ emissions annually, equivalent to the carbon sequestered by 1,600 trees over ten years. As per the studies, a wind-powered desalination system can save up to 30% of energy.
Here’s a list of innovative technologies that are at play in sustainable water purification systems:
EDI systems produce high-purity water by removing ionized species through electrically driven processes. In contrast to traditional ion exchange methods, an EDI system eradicates the need for chemical regeneration and reduces chemical waste by up to 90%. EDI systems can achieve water quality with a resistivity of up to 18 MΩ·cm, which is one of the stringent requirements of the pharmaceutical industry.
At TSA, we offer Purified water generation systems with Advanced closed-loop recirculation systems for sustainable operations with optional automation of sanitization and sterilization processes. Our high-purity water treatment solutions incorporate continuous electrode-ionization to produce high-purity water that surpasses the most stringent standards in the world!
UV rays are highly effective in inactivating bacteria and viruses and can achieve a 99.99% disinfection rate (4-log reduction) of microbial load in pharmaceutical water. A UV disinfection system proves to be a better alternative to chemical disinfectants as it minimizes the formation of harmful by-products.
It is one of the advanced and celebrated oxidation processes that can remove up to 99% of organic contaminants and pathogens. Ozone is a powerful oxidant that decomposes into oxygen, thus leaving no harmful residues behind. With Ozonation, you can reduce up to 70% of total organic carbon (TOC) levels.
As the name suggests, a ZLD technology eliminates all liquid waste from water purification processes by recovering up to 95% of wastewater as purified water. This highly efficient system reduces the need for fresh water, and in the pharmaceutical industry, it can decrease water consumption by up to 60%.
Besides saving the environment, Pharmaceutical companies also benefit from tax incentives, grants, and subsidies, which can reduce capital costs by up to 30%. By incorporating sustainable water purification systems, companies can achieve compliance with environmental standards and avoid potential fines while improving their corporate social responsibility (CSR) profile.
As we end the discussion on the significance of incorporating sustainable water purification technologies in the pharma industry, the challenges must also be addressed. In addition to the initial costs of these new technologies, maintenance costs and the requirement for technical expertise become a roadblock.
TSA is a one-stop solution where we empathetically listen to your problems and craft cost-effective, sustainable water purification systems.
Reach out to us now for a sustainable future!
Water quality plays a critical role in the pharmaceutical industry, where stringent requirements must be met to ensure the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical products. Different pharmaceutical processes demand varying levels of water quality, making it essential to have precise control over water purification systems. Contaminated water can jeopardize product quality and, ultimately, patient safety. In this article, we delve into the significance of monitoring liquid particle counters (LPC) in maintaining pharmaceutical water quality and ensuring compliance with industry standards, particularly the EU GMP Annex1.
The pharmaceutical industry relies heavily on water as a utility in various aspects of production and product preparation. The diverse pharmaceutical applications require different grades of water quality. Control over water quality, especially microbiological quality, remains a paramount concern, leading to substantial investments in water purification systems.
Water for Injection (WFI) holds a crucial role in pharmaceutical processes. It serves as an excipient, reconstitutes products, aids in synthesis, participates in the production of finished products, and is used as a cleaning agent for rinsing vessels and equipment. Consequently, WFI must be sterile and free of viable contamination to ensure the quality and safety of the final pharmaceutical product.
Historically, WFI production was limited to distillation. However, recent revisions to the European Pharmacopeia monograph for Water for Injections () now allow the production of WFI through a purification process using reverse osmosis with electro-deionization or nanofiltration. This change underscores the industry’s pursuit of innovative methods to meet the demanding standards for water quality.
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Potable or mains water serves as the primary source for all other grades of water in pharmaceutical processes. Importantly, it has no direct contact with the pharmaceutical product, making it suitable for initial stages of production.
Purified water undergoes mechanical filtration or processing to remove impurities, making it suitable for various pharmaceutical applications. While distilled water was once the primary form of purified water, modern purification techniques include capacitive deionization, reverse osmosis, carbon filtering, microfiltration, ultrafiltration, ultraviolet oxidation, and electro-deionization. These processes can produce ultrapure water with trace contaminants measured in parts per billion (ppb) or parts per trillion (ppt).
Water for Injections (WFI) is used for the preparation of medicines for parenteral administration, such as injections. It requires extra high quality and must be free from significant contamination. Sterile versions of WFI are utilized for making solutions that will be administered by injection.
With the recent updates in Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), particularly the EU GMP Annex1: update, pharmaceutical companies are emphasizing a complete facility Contamination Control Strategy. This strategy is vital in maintaining product quality and patient safety.
Monitoring these critical water systems is now facilitated through the use of liquid particle counters (LPCs). These instruments enable fast notification of contamination by continuously sampling loop systems. If contamination levels rise beyond acceptable limits, operators and managers are immediately alerted.
A typical monitoring setup includes LPCs placed at key points in the Purified Water and WFI distribution loops. The presence of LPCs at these critical junctures ensures that any deviation from baseline water quality is detected promptly. Additional monitoring points may also be installed at pre-filtration stages to provide early indications of system failure. The ultimate goal is to create an early warning system that prevents contaminated water from circulating within the sterile pharmaceutical production environment.
In the digital age, the adoption of online liquid particle counters is gaining prominence. These remote LPCs can be easily connected to water systems and capture crucial data in real-time. Notifications can be issued immediately to end-users, allowing for rapid response to any deviations from the established water quality standards.
Multiple monitoring points can be implemented to assess filtration efficiency and system integrity. Most pharmaceutical water systems utilize a combination of process filtration and reverse osmosis with deionized systems. These filtration systems typically employ pore sizes ranging from 0.2μm to as fine as 0.1μm.
Implementing a liquid particle monitoring system in pharmaceutical water quality management offers several advantages:
Real-Time Contamination Control: LPCs provide real-time data, allowing for immediate action if contamination is detected.
Establishing Baseline Trends: The system enables the establishment of baseline trends and the setting of alarm notifications to prevent deviations from acceptable water quality standards.
Data Analytics: Real-time data can be analyzed to develop system service strategies, optimizing water purification processes.
System Uptime Maximization: Monitoring helps maximize system uptime, reducing downtime and associated costs.
Improved Product Quality Yield: Enhanced water quality leads to improved product quality yield.
Informed Decision-Making: Reliable data informs process decisions and ensures adherence to regulatory requirements.
Prevention of Accidental Contamination: LPCs prevent the accidental use of contaminated water in pharmaceutical processes.
Ease of Installation and Management: Liquid particle monitoring systems are easy to install and manage, making them accessible to pharmaceutical companies of all sizes.
In conclusion, the pharmaceutical industry’s commitment to water quality is reflected in its rigorous standards and investments in water purification systems. Liquid particle monitoring plays an essential role in safeguarding pharmaceutical water quality by providing real-time data and early warning capabilities. With the implementation of these monitoring systems, pharmaceutical companies can maintain compliance with evolving regulatory requirements while ensuring the safety and efficacy of their products.
Ready to enhance your pharmaceutical water quality control and compliance efforts? Contact us today to explore the latest liquid particle monitoring solutions for your facility. Ensure the safety and efficacy of your pharmaceutical products while staying ahead of regulatory changes. Don’t compromise on water quality – take proactive steps now!