A Comparative Heterogeneous Photocatalytic Removal Study on Amoxicillin and Clarithyromicin Antibiotics in Aqueous Solutions

Since most of antibiotics have been demonstrated to be low degradable in biological treatment systems, advanced oxidation processes have gained an essential attraction to oxidize them through OH radicals formation. This study attempts to optimize the removal of 10 mg/L of two antibiotics, namely amoxicillin and clarithromycin heterogenous photocatalytic oxidation process at varying catalyst doses and pH conditions. The process efficiency was evaluated in terms of degradation (UV absorbance) and mineralization (Total organic carbon, TOC) efficiencies. A different rate of mineralization and degradation was observed for each antibiotic. pH and TiO2 /antibiotic ratio were observed to be important factors for process optimization.