Minimization of chemical's release from a large-scale pharmaceutical industry : By optimization of the crystallization process

Abstract: The presence of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and other chemicals in wastewater has caused concerns in recent years due to its potential risk to the environment and society. Thus, the aim of the study is to investigate ways to minimize the release of chemicals from a large-scale pharmaceutical industry to an industrial wastewater treatment plant. The large-scale industry that is studied is located at Cambrex Karlskoga AB and the process that is investigated is the production of the intermediate R1-MR2E, from a carboxylic acid and an alcohol through an esterification. The investigations are performed by modifying a HPLC-UV method and mapping the release of the carboxylic acid and R1-MR2E as well as examining possible ways of minimizing the release by optimization of the crystallization of the recirculation of the carboxylic acid and of the product R1-MR2E. The method used in the investigation is mostly the modified HPLC-UV method. The optimizations are performed by examining the effect of the maturation time on the crystallization of the recirculated carboxylic acid, and by investigating the effect that a concentrated solution has on the pH of crystallization. The results indicate a possibility to remove the washing water of the recirculated carboxylic acid in order to minimize the release of the compound and R1-MR2E without affecting the quality of R1-MR2E. The results also show that a minimized amount of solvent can be used in the crystallization of R1-MR2E without affecting the process.