Pharmaceuticals

Pharmaceutical manufacturing is essential for improving our quality of life and longevity. The sector is responsible for developing innovative medicinal products, such as products that fight disease, ease pain, protect against infections, and improve outcomes. Industry advances have been critical factors in increasing life expectancy globally for decades.

Why do Pharmaceutical Facilities Need Air Pollution Control (APC)?

Carriers and other organic solutions are often employed to create specific pharmaceutical formulations: These compounds can evolve HAPs, VOCs, and Particulate Matter (PM) during manufacturing processes. Environmental laws, including the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), apply to major source facilities and require the treatment of process air contaminants before being discharged into the atmosphere.

As noted by the EPA, the primary HAPs emitted by pharmaceutical product manufacturing include methylene chloride, methanol, toluene, and hydrogen chloride. Methylene chloride, for example, is a probable human carcinogen, and other pollutants can cause adverse health effects in humans. For these reasons, government regulations exist to meet public health and safety guidelines, and air pollution control equipment that can meet the emission requirements unique to your plant is critical.

Various APC Technologies Applicable to Pharmaceuticals

Each operation will have unique goals and challenges. Some of the more common technologies deployed for different problems are listed below:

• Catalytic Oxidizer – catalytic oxidization is favorable for treating VOC-containing exhaust streams, such as acetone and ethanol vapors, with low particulate.
• Thermal Oxidizer – the appropriate thermal oxidizer technology will depend on the flow, pollutant concentrations, and required destruction efficiency of specific VOCs and HAPs.
• Packed Bed Chemical Scrubber – necessary to treat specific airborne HAPs such as methylene chloride and hydrogen chloride.
• Venturi Scrubber – best applied to particulate removal needs.