Algae mediated photodegradation of fluroquinolone antibiotic: Ofloxacin

Abstract

Antibiotics are one of the most important pharmaceutical products and their excessive use generates significant adverse effectson the human environment. Their residues are harmful to the environment due to their potential hazard, toxicity and persistence. The indirect photodegradation of these residual antibiotics using algae as a potential photosensitizer provides a good low cost environmental solution. Herein, the photochemical behaviors of fluoroquinolone antibiotics, such as ofloxacin, were evaluated in the presence of an algal solution. The result of proposed research work clearly indicates that the algae play a crucial role in the photodegradation of ofloxacin and also accelerate the rate of photodegradation. The effect of concentration and pH of the algal solution on the photochemical behavior of the ofloxacin showed that as the concentration of algae was increased the rate of the photodegradation of drug became faster.