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Photocatalytic degradation of penicillin G from simulated wastewater using the UV/ZnO process: isotherm and kinetic study

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Abstract

Purpose

Pharmaceutical contaminants, including antibiotics, present in the environment, especially water resources, are a main concern for human and environmental health due to their stability and non-degradability. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to investigate the photocatalytic removal of penicillin G antibiotic from simulated wastewater using a photocatalytic process [UV/ZnO] in an isotherm and kinetic study.

Methods

In the current research, the ZnO nanoparticles [ZnO NPs] were initially characterized by scanning electron microscope [SEM] and X-ray diffraction [XRD]. Then, its efficiency was investigated in the photocatalytic degradation process of penicillin G. The evaluated parameters in the adsorption process penicillin G antibiotic were pH [1,2,3,4,5], penicillin G concentration [10–30 mgL−1], NP dosage [0.5–4.5 gL−1] and contact time [5 to 200 min]. Then, the effect of pH [3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and], penicillin G concentration [10–30 mgL−1], NP dosage [0.01–1.5 gL−1] and contact time [5 to 200 min] in the photocatalytic degradation (UV/ZnO) was studied. The residual penicillin G concentration was measured using a spectrophotometery at a wavelength of 283 nm.

Results

The results indicated that the penicillin G removal efficiency of photocatalytic process [UV/ZnO] using ZnO was 74.65% at the concentration of 10 mgL−1, the pH value of 5, the ZnO NP dosage of 0.1 gL−1 and the contact time of 180 min, as well as the kinetics of degradation followed the pseudo-first-order kinetic model.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that the use of this process is appropriate an effective for the removal of the antibiotic pollutants.

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  • 20 March 2020

    The affiliation of the author Negin Nasseh was incorrect.

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Acknowledgments

The present study was funded by the Deputy of Research and Technology of Birjand University of Medical Sciences with code of research 455337 and under code of ethics ir.bums.REC.1396.120 The authors hereby would like to express their gratitude and appreciation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran

    Soheila Chavoshan & Maryam Khodadadi

  2. Science and Research Branch of Tehran, Research & Elite Club, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Negin Nasseh

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  1. Soheila Chavoshan
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  2. Maryam Khodadadi
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Correspondence to Maryam Khodadadi.

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Chavoshan, S., Khodadadi, M. & Nasseh, N. Photocatalytic degradation of penicillin G from simulated wastewater using the UV/ZnO process: isotherm and kinetic study. J Environ Health Sci Engineer 18, 107–117 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-020-00442-7

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