Filtration and purification of water and liquids
Pharmaceutical industry and laboratories | Water purification systems
The pharmaceutical, laboratory and cosmetic industries require water with specific characteristics for their production and processing equipment and products. Therefore, they usually require water treatment with a combination of systems, including:
Filtration: to remove particles and suspended matter, with microfiltration and ultrafiltration with absolute micron cartridges.
Demineralization: to reduce the levels of ions present in water through reverse osmosis and ion exchange resins.
Disinfection: to eliminate any microorganisms that may be present, by means of chlorine or chlorine dioxide generation, ultraviolet (UV) light lamps and ozone.
It is important that treated water meets the necessary standards and requirements for use in the production of pharmaceutical, cosmetic and laboratory products.
Water treatment required by the pharmaceutical, laboratory and cosmetics industry
The pharmaceutical, laboratory and cosmetic industries demand high levels of water quality. Failure to comply with these standards may result in product contamination or even serious health problems. The following sections describe the different types of filtration, demineralization and disinfection that may be required for these industries.
Filtration
The pharmaceutical, laboratory and cosmetic industries have specific requirements for water treatment. For example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that water used in the manufacture of drugs be filtered to remove particles and suspended matter, as well as ions. Filters are used to remove particles and suspended matter, such as colloidal matter and bacteria, from water sources.
Demineralization
Demineralization is the process of removing ions, salts and minerals from water. It is essential for the pharmaceutical, laboratory and cosmetic industries because these substances can cause product quality problems.
- Calcium and magnesium removal: Calcium and magnesium are naturally present in water, but must be removed because they can interfere with some chemical reactions that take place during manufacturing processes.
- Iron and manganese removal: Iron and manganese also occur naturally in water, but must be removed prior to use because they can cause discoloration or precipitation at elevated levels during processing (e.g., in pharmaceuticals).
Disinfection
Chlorine or chlorine dioxide is used to disinfect water in the pharmaceutical, laboratory and cosmetic industries.
UV lamps are also used for this purpose.
Ozone can be generated at the point of use or at some distance from the source and then brought into contact with the water flow by means of a diffuser plate placed near an outlet pipe (as shown below).
A combination of systems including filtration, demineralization and disinfection may be required.
Bottom line: whatever your industry, you need to know the ins and outs of water treatment. Failure to do so could put your business in jeopardy.
In many industries, such as pharmaceuticals, laboratories and cosmetics, it is necessary to treat incoming water before use. This is because these types of companies use large quantities of water for various purposes (such as manufacturing and equipment cleaning), which may contain harmful contaminants such as bacteria or minerals that can make people sick if accidentally consumed.
To avoid these risks, companies should consider using a combination of filtration systems, such as filters and demineralizers, together with disinfection processes, such as ozone treatment or UV radiation.
