Active Pharmaceutical Intermediates from waste water streams of API companies are emerging
contaminants in the aquatic environment, because of their adverse effect on aquatic life and
humans. These contaminants are high in COD and difficult to treat biologically. In this study,
advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) utilizing H2O2/Fe+2, Fenton reactions were investigated in
lab-scale experiments for the COD degradation of different waste water streams of Active
Pharmaceutical Intermediates -ISMN (Isosorbide 5- Mononitrate) . The experimental results
showed that the Fenton process using H2O2/Fe+2 was the most effective Pre treatment process
for waste water streams before Activated sludge process. With Fenton processes, COD
Reduction of wastewater can be achieved successfully. It is suggested that Fenton processes are
viable techniques for the degradation of Active Pharmaceutical Intermediates- ISMN (Isosorbide
5- Mononitrate) waste water stream with relatively low toxicity of the by-products in the effluent
which can be easily biodegradable in the activated sludge process, and other less degraded
streams with high total dissolved solids can be taken to multiple effect evaporator or Reverse
osmosis.
