Treatment of Antibiotic Residues of Fluoroquinolones (Ofloxacin) in Hospital Wastewater using Peroxone Oxidation Process

Abstract

In recent years, the presence of antibiotics in the environment has become a new threat to living organisms. Many advanced treatment technologies have been applied to treat antibiotic residues, especially in advanced oxidation processes. The traditional wastewater treatment process can be replaced by advanced oxidation (AOP), highly reactive free radicals, especially hydroxyl radicals (•OH) generated via Fenton (H₂O₂/Fe), peroxone (O₃/H₂O₂), electrochemical oxidation, photochemical, serve as the main oxidant. In this study, antibiotic residues of Fluoroquinolones (Ofloxacin) are assessed in hospital wastewater after treatment and evaluated factors affecting peroxone oxidation process. The results show that the treatment efficiency is 72 % at initial OFL concentration of 20 µg.L^-1, O₃ (5 mg.L^-1) flow rate is 1 L.min^-1, initial H₂O₂ concentration of 50 mg.L^-1 at pH 7. The OFL removal efficiency by peroxone process decreased when inorganic ions (CO₃^2-, HCO₃^-, Cl^-) were added at the concentration of 1mM. . The peroxone process is a promising technique to replace traditional technologies to treat antibiotic residues in wastewater.