Study of Microbial Distribution from Different Processing Stages in Purified Water Production Plant of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Facility

Abstract

Abstract

Treatment plants for production of pharmaceutical water are composed of successive processing stages. Microbial excursions may occur at any level(s) and in different occasions. Thorough analysis is required to be useful in investigation for any out-of-control state to identify the root cause. The current study provided long term inspection of microbial profile for over 41 months from different processing steps of water treatment station for purified water. Apparently low bioburden of chlorinated city water was spiked to high level of microbial count when disinfectant was neutralized with sodium metabisulphite. Relatively high microbial counts continued with sampling points after reverse osmosis (RO) unit and to lower extent after electrodeionizer (EDI) unit. The high microbial count was suppressed again after passage from ultraviolet irradiation unit, and then increased significantly within purified water distribution system. Interestingly, distribution profiles of bioburden after different sampling locations showed significant coefficient of determination with exception of untreated raw water at location before ultrafiltration unit (UF). Logarithmic transformation significantly improved normalization of microbial distribution with the exception of after softener sampling point. The study of fraction from total bioburden revealed that most of microbial populations’ densities from the whole system were centered in warm weather periods from April to November.

Keywords: EDI, purified water, RO, softener, UF, ultraviolet

Cite this Article

Mostafa Essam Eissa. Study of Microbial Distribution from Different Processing Stages in Purified Water Production Plant of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Facility. Research & Reviews: Journal of Microbiology and Virology. 2016; 6(1): 31–45p.