Activated Carbon/Hydrogen Peroxide (AC/H2O2) Treatment of Amoxicillin and Cloxacillin Antibiotics in Aqueous Solution

• Main Authors: Affam, A. C., Chaudhuri, M.
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering
• Online Access: http://eprints.utp.edu.my/6400/1/Activetad_Carbon-Hydrogen_Peroxide_%28AC-H2O2%29_Treatment_of_Amoxicillin_and_Cloxacillin_Antibiotics_in_Aqueous_Solution.docx; http://eprints.utp.edu.my/6400/

The study examined AC/H2O2 treatment of amoxicillin and cloxacillin antibiotics aqueous solution. The treatment was optimized by the central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM). The optimum operating conditions at pH 3 were H2O2/COD molar ratio 2.0, AC 3.5 g/L and reaction time 90 min for 78.03% removal of COD, 78.36% removal of TOC and 97.16% removal of NH3-N. Experimental removal efficiency and model prediction were in close agreement (<1.0% error). Biodegradability (BOD5/COD ratio) improved from zero to 0.32, indicating that the effluent was amenable to biological treatment. FTIR spectra indicated degradation of the antibiotics. The study has shown that AC/H2O2 process is effective in pretreatment of amoxicillin and cloxacillin antibiotics aqueous solution for biological treatment.