Pharmaceutical industry wastewater varies enormously in flow and composition, depending on factors such as the production rate, the specific preparation being carried out, which activities are generating the waste water, etc. Generally, these wastewater contain:
- A high content of organic matter, a large part of which is easily biodegradable (alcohol, acetone, etc)
- Slowly biodegradable organic compounds and refractory substances (aromatic compounds, chlorinated hydrocarbons, etc)
- Inhibiting and toxic compounds (antibiotics)
- Soaps and detergents with surfactants
