title: Sonochemical decomposition of levofloxacin in aqueous solution.
abstract: The decomposition of levofloxacin was performed in an aqueous solution under ultrasound irradiation. The effect of operating conditions, including pH value, reaction time, initial concentration, and ultrasound power on the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rate was examined at room temperature (23 +/- 2 degrees C). Under a given condition (initial levofloxacin concentration = 20 mg/L, ultrasonic power = 400 W, and pH = 5.86), a 56.6% COD removal rate was obtained after 120 minutes of reaction time. It also was found that 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) of the solution increased evidently after sonochemical treatment, and the ratio of BOD5/COD, which was a good measure for biodegradability, increased from 0 to 0.40, indicating that the biodegradability of the solution was enhanced. Based on the results, it is feasible that sonochemical oxidation can be used for the pretreatment of levofloxacin effluent before biological treatment processes.
authors.affiliation: School of Resources and Environment, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, China. chm_guowl@ujn.edu.cn
authors.forename: Weilin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Yahui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Hongzhi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Guangyou
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D064704:Levofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000737:chemistry*; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D020002:tert-Butyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D064704:Levofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D020002:tert-Butyl Alcohol