PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF PHARMACEUTICAL WASTEWATER IN OSUN STATE

Oguntunnbi D. E.*, Awokoya K. N., Abioye O. E., Okoya A. A. and Ojo B. O.

ABSTRACT

Background: The pharmaceutical industry bears much responsibility for environmental pollution. Objective: This study was carried out to determine the physicochemical and bacteriological analysis of the pharmaceutical effluents, in Osun State, Nigeria. Methods: Five wastewater samples from different locations were analyzed using standard chemical and bacteriological methods. The results obtained were compared with WHO and NESREA recommended limits. Results: The ranges of values obtained for physicochemical parameters analyzed were from 25.9°C to 27.5°C temperature, 5.2 to 5.4 pH, 159.68 to 1542.80 true colour, 284.53 to 1769.92 Pt-Co apparent colour, 16.37 to 51.34 NTU turbidity, 1483.14 to 1528.75 mg/L total suspended solids (TSS), 43.01 to 128.50 mg/L total dissolved solids (TDS), 0.08 to 0.27 µS/cm conductivity, 268.75 to 540.51 mg/L CaCO3 acidity, 1.30 to 5.70 mg/L dissolved oxygen, 4.75 to 16.00 mg/L biological oxygen demand in (BOD), 12.13 to 17.63 mg/L chemical oxygen demand (COD), 15.25 to 15.80 mg/L sulphate, 0.48 to 2.14 mg/L Nitrate, 0.18 to 1.05 mg/L Nitrite, 107.31 to 234.98 mg/L chloride, 0.31 to 0.32 mg/L phosphate, 1.24 to 202.50 mg/L magnesium, 21.82 to 73.25 mg/L calcium. The total bacteria count and coliform count of the wastewaters samples ranged from 5.1 X 106 to 6.5 X 106 CFU/Ml and 2.2 X 106 to 4.5 X 106 CFU/mL with the highest coliform count observed at the point of discharge. Four different bacteria were isolated with Escherichia coli predominating followed by Klebsiella aerogenes, Bacillus cereus and Enterobacter aerogenes. Conclusion: The results of this study confirmed high levels of pollutants in pharmaceutical effluent samples and this could hamper the ecosystem. Thus, a more effective treatment approach is recommended for pharmaceutical industrial effluents in the interest of public health.

Keywords: physicochemical, bacteriological, pharmaceutical wastewater, environment, treatment, public health.