GlaxoSmithKline upgrades its purified water disinfection systems with state-of-the-art medium pressure UV systems
GlaxoSmithKline has opted to upgrade the existing Hanovia ultraviolet (UV) water disinfection units at one of its UK installations with new state-of-the-art Hanovia Photon medium pressure UV systems.
Six systems were recently upgraded, all of which are used to disinfect purified water for the washing and rinsing stages of clean-in-place (CIP) production equipment, as well as for the manufacture of coating solutions for tablets.
The water, which originates in nearby reservoirs, is chlorinated before passing through sand filters.
It is then passed through carbon filters and is deionised before UV disinfection.
The UV systems have the capacity to treat up to 80 tonnes of water per day, 24 hours a day.
"UV was specified as an integral part of the purified water system right from the start," commented a senior technician at the site.
"Due to the nature of the production process and associated regulatory requirements we can't use chemicals, and ozonation was rejected due to the downtime related with retro-fitting.
UV was therefore considered as the best solution as it is non-intrusive and a tried and tested microbial control technology.
It is also low-maintenance, the only intervention required being infrequent lamp changes", he added.
