title: Degradation of the antibiotics amoxicillin, ampicillin and cloxacillin in aqueous solution by the photo-Fenton process.
abstract: The study examined degradation of the antibiotics amoxicillin, ampicillin and cloxacillin in aqueous solution by the photo-Fenton process. The optimum operating conditions for treatment of an aqueous solution containing 104, 105 and 103 mg/L amoxicillin, ampicillin, and cloxacillin, respectively was observed to be H(2)O(2)/COD molar ratio 1.5, H(2)O(2)/Fe(2+) molar ratio 20 and pH 3. Under optimum operating conditions, complete degradation of amoxicillin, ampicillin and cloxacillin occurred in 2 min. Biodegradability (BOD(5)/COD ratio) improved from approximately 0 to 0.4, and COD and DOC degradation were 80.8 and 58.4%, respectively in 50 min. Photo-Fenton treatment resulted in the release and mineralization of organic carbon and nitrogen in the antibiotic molecule. Increase in ammonia and nitrate concentration, and DOC degradation were observed as a result of organic carbon and nitrogen mineralization. DOC degradation increased to 58.4% and ammonia increased from 8 to 13.5mg/L, and nitrate increased from 0.3 to 14.2mg/L in 50 min.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar, 31750 Tronoh, Perak, Malaysia. em_civil@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Emad S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Elmolla
authors.forename: Malay
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chaudhuri
mesh_terms: D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D000667:Ampicillin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002244:Carbon; D003023:Cloxacillin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D007501:Iron; D009584:Nitrogen; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D012996:Solutions; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; C045076:Fenton's reagent; D012996:Solutions; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002244:Carbon; D000667:Ampicillin; D000658:Amoxicillin; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D007501:Iron; D009584:Nitrogen; D003023:Cloxacillin