Pharmaceutical production processes require large volumes of solvents for reaction cleanup and product isolation. Once these solvents have served their purpose, they’re often discarded as hazardous waste. But many of these so-called “spent” solvents still contain valuable components, making disposal not just costly, but increasingly unnecessary. At Altiras Labs, we specialize in spent solvent recovery for pharma operations.
Our Waste-to-Product Development model uses advanced dehydration, decolorization, and purification technologies to recover solvents once considered unrecyclable. We can return solvents to a usable state for internal reuse or prepare them for non-GMP resale, turning an expense into an opportunity.
What Are Reaction Cleanup Solvents?
Solvents like isopropanol (IPA), ethanol, acetone, methanol, ethyl acetate, and PGMEA are commonly used during cleanup to:
- Rinse glassware and process equipment
- Wash intermediates and final products
- Extract active compounds from synthesis mixtures
Over time, these solvents absorb moisture, APIs, colorants, and other trace byproducts. The standard response is disposal. But disposal doesn’t just carry a high price—it can mean throwing away usable material and creating unnecessary environmental impact.
Addressing the Top Obstacles to Spent Solvent Recovery
Many pharma manufacturers assume their solvents are too contaminated or that recovery isn’t feasible due to operational constraints. Here’s how Altiras can help you overcome common objections:
- “I can’t get high enough purity to reuse the solvent myself.” In many cases, you actually can. Ask us about past successes. And you don’t have to reuse it—we can help resell the recovered solvent.
- “API or other contaminants make our solvent unrecyclable.” We’ve recovered solvents from streams with complex APIs and trace residues. Our technology has advanced significantly in recent years. We perform full lab testing and QA to ensure contaminant removal.
- “We don’t have labor to manage a recovery system.” Our onsite units can be highly automated, requiring minimal oversight.
- “We don’t have enough space.” Some systems are as compact as a pallet. Or we can handle the recovery off-site and send back a usable product.
- “Our volume is too small to matter.” Maybe not. You’d be surprised how recovery compares to incineration costs—even for smaller quantities.
We also work with sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid recovery in pharma settings where these acids are used for neutralization or reaction workups.
A Missed Opportunity: Solvents That Could Be Recovered in Pharma
A common scenario:
- 5,000 gallons/month of IPA used in reaction cleanup
- Spent IPA contains 6% water and some yellowing
- Instead of recovery, the facility pays $120,000/year in disposal costs
- Potential recovery value: $60,000+
Altiras Labs can help reclaim this value, restoring solvent quality and finding markets for resale if onsite reuse isn’t an option.
How Altiras Labs Recovers Spent Solvents
We begin with a complete laboratory evaluation:
- Water content: Karl Fischer analysis to assess dehydration needs
- Color and clarity: APHA or ASTM D1500
- Impurity identification: GC and HPLC for trace organics or APIs
From there, we use the right combination of:
- Membrane dehydration to remove water
- Decolorization using carbon beds or adsorption media
- Filtration and polishing for solids and residual byproducts
The result: a clear, dry, and reusable solvent ready for resale or reuse.
Environmental & Operational Benefits
Choosing recovery over disposal yields:
- Less hazardous waste generation
- Lower procurement costs on fresh solvents
- Reduced operating expenses
- Better ESG metrics and sustainability reporting
When to Consider Recovery
Recovery is a strong option if:
- You generate 1,000+ gallons/month of spent solvent
- Your solvent contains water or light organic impurities
- You use common solvents like IPA, ethanol, acetone, or PGMEA
- You want to improve waste circularity and reduce disposal costs
Ready to Reclaim Your Solvent Value?
Altiras Labs provides lab evaluations to determine if your spent solvent streams are viable for recovery for pharma. Whether you’re dealing with alcohols, esters, or spent acids, we can help you identify cost-saving opportunities and design a custom plan to make recovery practical.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation.