A method is provided for manufacturing pharmaceutical water by means of
distillation and sanitizing the equipment used in said manufacturing. The
method comprises the removal of suspended solids from chlorine-containing
water by means of a multimedia filter, followed by a water-softening step
and a dechlorination step. Ammonia is then removed from the dechlorinated
water before subjecting the water to distillation in a mechanical vapor
compression distillation unit. A portion of the generated
low-pressure-steam is used to sanitize the manufacturing equipment at
certain prescribed locations, and the distilled water, exhibiting United
States Pharmacopoeia purified water quality, is withdrawn from the still
and stored as pharmaceutical water product. No reverse osmosis operation
is required. A system for carrying out the process is also provided.
Sanitization is carried out while the system is in a standby mode.
