Zero liquid discharge technology strategies in Indian distilleries and pharmaceutical industries—a paradigm shift toward sustainability

Distilleries and pharmaceutical industries are identified as highly polluting industries in India. These sectors are striving for sustainability toward closed loop water cycle and zero liquid discharge (ZLD). ZLD is mandated in these industries in India. In a distillery effluent, pigment known as melanoidin is a recalcitrant and additional attention is required in degrading it, while the concentration of total organic carbon (TOC) and antibiotics in pharmaceutical wastewater needs a special attention. The design and development of ZLD scheme necessitates the knowledge and understanding of the effluent characteristics and the raw materials used. This chapter presents the various strategies being followed to achieve ZLD in Indian distilleries and pharmaceutical industries. In spite of the challenges in terms of huge investment required to attain ZLD, distillery industries in India are taking it in the right spirit and delivering focused efforts on achieving compliance to the government norms. In India, though ZLD technologies have been deployed to treat pharmaceutical effluents, the specific technologies for antibiotic residue treatment are not widely used. Many pharmaceutical industries practice partial ZLD and a partial treatment by conventional methods. A continued effort toward development of cost-effective and efficient technological strategies by the scientists and technologists, together with the appropriately enforced regulations, frequent inspections by the regulatory bodies, the provision of incentives to those companies which perform well in achieving ZLD, and a focused drive of the companies to achieve ZLD is essential toward sustainability.