Application Case of the Discharge Outlet of a Traditional Chinese Medicine Decoction Pieces Enterprise in Shanghai

Monitoring location: Discharge outlet of the enterprise’s sewage treatment station

Products Used:

- CODG-3000 Online Automatic Chemical Oxygen Demand Monitor

- NHNG-3010 Ammonia Nitrogen Online Automatic Monitoring Instrument

- TPG-3030 Total Phosphorus Online Automatic Analyzer 

- pHG-2091 pH Online Analyzer

Application case of the discharge outlet of a Chinese medicine decoction piece company in Shanghai In Pudong New Area, Shanghai Traditional Chinese Medicine Decoction Pieces Co., Ltd., an enterprise focusing on the production of traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces and the acquisition of Chinese medicinal materials, treats production wastewater and domestic sewage generated by its daily operations through a self-built sewage treatment station. The treated sewage is discharged into the municipal sewage pipe network at a scale totaling 40.3 cubic meters per day, and the discharge standards strictly follow the “Comprehensive Sewage Discharge Standard” (DB31/199-2018). In order to ensure compliance, the company implements regular management of drainage facilities, and actively cooperates with the regular inspection and supervision of the Pudong New Area Water Affairs Bureau and the Urban Management Administrative Law Enforcement Bureau.

In the production process of traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces, wastewater discharge is an environmental problem that cannot be ignored. These wastewater mainly come from the washing, processing, extraction and other links of medicinal materials, which may contain a large amount of organic pollutants, such as residual plant fibers, proteins, sugars and other soluble organic compounds. Once these organic matter enter the water body, they will consume the dissolved oxygen in the water, leading to the death of aquatic organisms, disrupting the ecological balance, and even affecting human health through the food chain.

Therefore, it is crucial to monitor and treat these wastewater effectively. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) is a key measure of the organic matter content in wastewater. By measuring COD, TCM Decoction Pieces can quantify the concentration of organic matter in wastewater, thereby evaluating the effectiveness of wastewater treatment processes. For example, if the COD value is too high, it means that the organic matter in the wastewater is not sufficiently degraded, and the treatment process needs to be adjusted, such as adding biological treatment stages or optimizing chemical oxidation methods, to ensure that the wastewater meets environmental standards before discharge. This step not only helps the company operate compliantly, but also significantly reduces the risk of pollution to surrounding water bodies.

In addition, wastewater also contains a certain amount of ammonia nitrogen and phosphorus, which are mainly derived from the processing process of medicinal materials. Ammonia nitrogen may come from protein breakdown, while phosphorus may come from natural ingredients in medicinal herbs or added chemical agents. Monitoring these parameters is crucial for controlling sources of contamination in the production process. For example, by monitoring ammonia nitrogen levels in real time, companies can adjust the washing and extraction processes of medicinal materials to reduce nitrogen release; Similarly, controlling phosphorus emissions can help prevent eutrophication of water bodies and deterioration of water quality due to algae overgrowth.

Together, these measures form the core of production control, ensuring the efficient operation of wastewater treatment systems. In order to ensure that the discharge meets national and local environmental protection standards, the Chinese Medicine Decoction Company purchased an online water quality analysis instrument produced by Shanghai Boqu Instrument Co., Ltd. to optimize the production process and reduce pollutant generation by monitoring parameters such as COD, ammonia nitrogen and phosphorus in wastewater in real time. Through these efforts, the company can not only avoid environmental pollution, but also enhance its corporate social responsibility image and achieve sustainable development. Ultimately, strict environmental compliance management is the only way for the traditional Chinese medicine decoction piece industry to protect the ecological environment and public health.