Hybrid Electrochemical-Biological Treatment System with IoT Control for Pharmaceutical Wastewater Remediation

Abstract

Pharmaceutical wastewater contains complex organic compounds, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and toxic contaminants that pose significant environmental and public health risks when discharged without adequate treatment. This study presents a hybrid electrochemical-biological treatment system integrated with Internet of Things (IoT) control for efficient pharmaceutical wastewater remediation. The proposed system combines electrochemical oxidation and biological degradation processes to enhance contaminant removal efficiency while enabling intelligent real-time monitoring and process automation. The electrochemical treatment unit facilitates the breakdown of persistent organic pollutants and toxic compounds through advanced oxidation reactions, whereas the biological treatment stage promotes microbial degradation of biodegradable contaminants. An IoT-based monitoring and control framework was developed to continuously track critical operational parameters, including pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, temperature, flow rate, and contaminant concentration. Real-time data acquisition and automated control algorithms were implemented to optimize treatment performance and improve system stability under varying wastewater conditions. Experimental and simulation analyses demonstrated substantial reductions in chemical oxygen demand, biochemical oxygen demand, pharmaceutical residues, and suspended solids, indicating effective remediation of complex wastewater streams. The hybrid treatment configuration exhibited improved degradation efficiency compared to standalone treatment approaches due to the synergistic interaction between electrochemical and biological processes.