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Destruction of Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Wastes by the Modar Supercritical Water Oxidation Process

Abstract

We describe a new technology for the destructive treatment of pharmaceutical wastes, the MODAR supercritical water oxidation process, that offers the advantages of almost complete destruction of organic matter coupled with a reasonable cost. We report the use of a bench-scale unit to treat a simulated chemical waste stream, a fermentation broth and a culture of an extreme thermophilic bacteria. Only inorganic compounds and simple organic materials, such as carbon dioxide, could be detected in the treated effluents.

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Johnston, J., Hannah, R., Cunningham, V. et al. Destruction of Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Wastes by the Modar Supercritical Water Oxidation Process. Nat Biotechnol 6, 1423–1427 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt1288-1423

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