CDOF Process: A Technology Revolution for Deep Purification of Pharmaceutical Wastewater
Pharmaceutical industrial wastewater is rich in refractory organic matter, heavy metals and biotoxic substances, posing a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health. At one large pharmaceutical manufacturer, for example, the wastewater COD exceeded 6000 mg/L, far above the national standard. Catalytic ozonation, with its strong oxidising power, efficiently decomposes refractory organics in the presence of a catalyst and markedly reduces COD, BOD and other indicators, offering a green and efficient deep purification solution for pharmaceutical wastewater.
Core process: CDOF technology breakthrough
The cyclonic dissolved air flotation unit (CDOF) combines three technologies: advanced oxidation with ozone, cyclonic intensified mixing and dissolved air flotation, achieving efficient coordinated removal of pollutants. Its core lies in:
Multiple catalytic oxidation: homogeneous catalysis (such as metal ions) combined with heterogeneous catalysis (catalyst supported on a porous carrier) markedly lowers the activation energy, accelerating ozone decomposition into highly reactive ·OH radicals and improving oxidation efficiency;
Cyclonic intensified mass transfer: the cyclonic action greatly improves the mixing of ozone with the wastewater;
Green flotation enhancement: the de-gelling and demulsifying properties of ozone reduce flocculant dosage and improve effluent quality.
CDOF operates fully automatically under pressure in a closed vessel: ozone dissolves and disperses rapidly, giving a high reaction rate and short contact time. Ozone utilisation exceeds 99%, the footprint is only 1/3 of that of conventional processes, and there is no risk of ozone leakage or harmful by-products, in line with green, low-carbon and sustainable development.
Proprietary patent: high-efficiency heterogeneous ozone catalyst
The unit is packed with an in-house developed high-efficiency ozone catalyst, whose innovative advantages are:
Nanoscale active components: noble-metal and transition-metal composites with a particle size controlled below 10 nm, greatly increasing specific surface area and reaction efficiency;
Deep oxidation capability: efficient decomposition of organic matter even at low ozone concentration;
Outstanding stability: a unique surface structure and anti-poisoning mechanism resist the influence of impurities in the wastewater, with a low activity loss rate (below 5% after several months of industrial operation);
Long service life and economy: a service life of several years, far above the industry average.
SINOKLE series ozone catalysts
Strict testing has confirmed that in pharmaceutical wastewater treatment this catalyst achieves a stable COD removal of more than 80% and a colour removal of nearly 100%.
Practical results: a benchmark for deep purification of pharmaceutical wastewater
At a large pharmaceutical plant in Inner Mongolia the wastewater COD reaches several thousand mg/L and conventional biological treatment is inefficient (COD removal of only about 15%). After adopting the CDOF process, the results were remarkable:
Efficient treatment: a retention time of only 45 minutes;
Outstanding results: the brown, highly toxic raw water becomes clear, transparent effluent; COD falls below 200 mg/L and suspended solids (SS) are 20 mg/L or less;
Improved biodegradability: the B/C ratio rises from below 0.1 to 0.37, favouring subsequent biological treatment;
Stable and economical operation: the long life and low attrition of the catalyst ensure efficient long-term operation.
Pharmaceutical wastewater treatment case study
The catalytic ozonation process (CDOF) with its efficient, green and compact characteristics successfully solves the difficult problem of advanced pharmaceutical wastewater treatment, setting a technical benchmark for the industry and leading pharmaceutical wastewater treatment into a new stage of resource conservation and environmental friendliness.
