LEBSA, together with Leitat, leads the PHARO project, a pioneering circular economy initiative in the pharmaceutical industry based on water regeneration

The project aims to optimize the production processes of the industry and focuses on the valorization of wastewater for a sustainable future.

LEBSA, in collaboration with Leitat, the national and European reference technology center accredited by ACCIÓ and recognized by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, has launched the PHARO project (Production of Regenerated Water and Recovery of Compounds of Interest from Pharmaceutical Industry Wastewater).

This new initiative, part of the Cervera Research and Development (PID) project call, will span the next 18 months and aims to research and optimize disruptive strategies to improve resource and waste efficiency in the pharmaceutical industry’s production processes.

A commitment to circularity in the pharmaceutical industry

The purpose of the PHARO project is to validate the techno-economic feasibility of an innovative and pioneering biorefinery designed for the production of regenerated water, based on the recovery of compounds of interest from the effluents of wastewater treatment plants in the pharmaceutical sector.

The three main goals that Leitat and LEBSA have set for the project are to: increase the circularity of water within the sector by promoting its sustainable use, generate new value chains through the principle of industrial symbiosis, creating new opportunities for the industry, and develop more self-sufficient and climate-resilient processes to better adapt the sector to an ever-changing environment.

The three main goals that Leitat and LEBSA have set for the project are to: increase the circularity of water within the sector by promoting its sustainable use, generate new value chains through the principle of industrial symbiosis, creating new opportunities for the industry, and develop more self-sufficient and climate-resilient processes to better adapt the sector to an ever-changing environment.

PHARO stands out not only for its innovative nature, as it is the first biorefinery in the pharmaceutical sector focused on water regeneration and solute recovery, but also for its alignment with the new European regulatory framework applied to wastewater. With this initiative, LEBSA positions itself at the forefront of sustainability, reinforcing its commitment to the efficient use of resources.

PHARO Project’s Intentions: Sustainability and Circular Economy

The main objectives of this project include:

• Developing technology for the reuse of wastewater in the pharmaceutical industry, obtaining regenerated water that can be reused within the same organization.
• Recovering a compound of interest present in the effluents of wastewater treatment plants.
• Researching, developing, and implementing advanced technologies that can eliminate traces of chemical compounds present in the industrial effluents of the pharmaceutical sector. These technologies may also be applicable to other industries.