UV activation of hydrogen peroxide for removal of azithromycin antibiotic from aqueous solution: determination of optimum conditions by response surface methodology

Abstract

Antibiotics have caused major concerns in environmental control due to the cumulative adverse effects on human health. This study investigates the effect of four variables: pH (3, 6, and 9), azithromycin concentration (2, 6, and 10 mg/L), hydrogen peroxide concentration (2, 6, and 10 mg/L) and contact time (30, 45, and 60 min) on azithromycin removal efficiency. The initial concentration of azithromycin is the most important and effective parameter which is inversely related to the efficiency of the treatment process. Increasing the hydrogen peroxide concentration had the least effect on the efficiency of UV/H₂O₂. The highest removal efficiency (76%) was at azithromycin concentration of 2 mg/L, and hydrogen peroxide concentration of 10 mg/L, 60-min contact time, and pH 3 were obtained. The lowest efficiency (38%) was obtained at pH 9, contact time of 30 min, hydrogen peroxide concentration of 2 mg/L, and azithromycin concentration of 10 mg/L. According to the results, the 2-factorial interaction fitted model was governed by the purification process. The results of this study indicate the high efficiency of UV/H₂O₂ process in azithromycin removal from aqueous solutions.

Keywords:

• UV/H2O2
• AOP
• azithromycin
• aqueous solution
• RSM

Acknowledgements

This paper is adapted from the Ph.D thesis of Mr. Rouhollah Shokri under the supervision of professors Dr. Reza Jalilzadeh Yengejeh and Dr. Ali Akbar Babaei and supervised by Professors Dr. Ehsan Derikvand and Professor Ali Almasi. I would like to thank Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch and the Abadan School of Medical Sciences which honestly support this thesis.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.