Direct Oxidation of Antibiotics from Aqueous Solution by Ozonation with Microbubbles

Abstract

in this research, antibiotics (tetracycline, ceftriaxone, and metronidazole) were removed in a batch reactor each one separately and together using ozone microbubbles (OMBs) method. The antibiotic removal efficiency was analyzed under different reaction conditions, including initial solution pH, ozonation time, ozone production rate, and initial antibiotic concentration. It was found from the experiments that the elimination of antibiotics by ozone microbubbles was higher at the basal medium between (7-8). In addition, as the ozone production rate was raised from (3.33-16.66) mg/min, the removal efficiency increased, as did the antibiotic concentration (1-100) PPM. Also, the removal tests were carried out under optimal conditions using the conventional ozonation method, and the microbubble technology and the results were compared under the same operating conditions. The microbubbles were found to save a lot of time and reduce the amount of ozone used.