Degradation of amoxicillin, ampicillin and cloxacillin antibiotics in aqueous solution by the UV/ZnO photocatalytic process.
The study examined the effect of operating conditions (zinc oxide concentration, pH and irradiation time) of the UV/ZnO photocatalytic process on degradation of amoxicillin, ampicillin and cloxacillin in aqueous solution. pH has a great effect on amoxicillin, ampicillin and cloxacillin degradation. The optimum operating conditions for complete degradation of antibiotics in an aqueous solution containing 104, 105 and 103 mg/L amoxicillin, ampicillin and cloxacillin, respectively were: zinc oxide 0.5 g/L, irradiation time 180 min and pH 11. Under optimum operating conditions, complete degradation of amoxicillin, ampicillin and cloxacillin occurred and COD and DOC removal were 23.9 and 9.7%, respectively. The photocatalytic reactions under optimum conditions approximately followed a pseudo-first order kinetics with rate constant (k) 0.018, 0.015 and 0.029 min(-1) for amoxicillin, ampicillin and cloxacillin, respectively. UV/ZnO photocatalysis can be used for amoxicillin, ampicillin and cloxacillin degradation in aqueous solution.
Department of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar, 31750 Tronoh, Perak, Malaysia. em_civil@yahoo.com
Emad S
ES
Elmolla
Malay
M
Chaudhuri
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; D002384:Catalysis; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003023:Cloxacillin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D008506:Medical Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D010777:Photochemistry; D012996:Solutions; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013997:Time Factors; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D008506:Medical Waste; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water; D000667:Ampicillin; D000658:Amoxicillin; D003023:Cloxacillin; D015034:Zinc Oxide