Synergistic Electro-Ozonation Degradation of Azithromycin in Wastewater using a Cu–Fe/Activated Carbon Catalyst: Experimental Investigation and RSM-Based Optimization

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance has reached critical levels globally, largely due to improper antibiotic use the Objective of the study of this research was to high efficiently remove azithromycin from wastewater and its action mechanism by hybrid system. Azithromycin has been an antibiotics widely used in treating a variety of diseases, but it could be a pollutant on environment especially based on their persistence and the ability to create resistance. In this work, a novel cooperative electro-ozonation system with the catalyst of Cu(5%)–Fe(5%)/AC was developed for azithromycin (azithromycin) degradation during wastewater treatment. Tests were carried out with a bench electrochemical reactor comprising stainless steel anodes and carbon–poly(vinyl alcohol) (C-PVA) cathodic beds applied at low voltage (5 V), combined with flotation assisted by ozone. The effects of key operating parameters such as liquid flow rate, ozone flotation intensity O3 and solution pH in addition to temperature (25–50 °C) on azithromycin degradation were systematically investigated. Removal efficiency of electro-ozonation–Cu–Fe/AC process is far beyond that of ozonation alone, simply sole electrochemical oxidation (electricity, electricity method) and noncatalytic electro-ozonation, which obviously reflects many kinds of synergy roles by changing each other from anodic oxidation to ozone studying and heterogeneous catalysis. The degradation of azithromycin conformed to a pseudo-first-order equation, and the kinetic rates increased with temperature. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was adopted to be a complementary statistical tool for studying the combined effect of process variables and for optimizing performance. Statistical results showed that liquid flow rate and reaction time were essential factors affecting azithromycin conversion, in accordance with the experimental phenomena. The developed RSM model had a high predictive capability and reliability, suggesting its applicability for process optimization. Herein, the stabilities of Cu–Fe/AC catalyst are reliable in cycles reuse and stable under EZO conditions. The results suggest that aimed at degradation of azithromycin in wastewater, conversion can reach 100%, the high stability of,in azithromycin initial concentration 40ppm electro-ozonation–Cu–Fe/AC treatment concept is effective and is a promising technique for advanced treatment and provide guidance to design, and optimize hybrid-oxidation techniques treating pharmaceutical pollutants.