Degradation of sulfathiazole antibiotics in aqueous solutions by using zero valent iron nanoparticles and hydrogen peroxide

In recent years, pharmaceutical contaminantshas created much concern for environmental experts. Therefore, it is important to find effective methods to remove of them from the environment. One of appropriate methods, in order to remove these contaminants is using nanocatalysts process.
In this experimental study, zero-valent iron nanoparticles synthesized in laboratory conditions, and its characteristics were determined by SEM and XRD analyses. In this study, it was investigated effects of factors such as pH, nanoparticles concentration and hydrogen peroxide concentration in removal of sulfathiazole antibiotics in aqueous solutions. All sampling and testing was performed according to standard methods for water and wastewater.
The result of this study showed that pH, as a very effective agent, has a major impact on the efficiency of the nanocatalysts process and removal efficiency is higher at lower pH. Maximum efficiency was 99.87 percent that obtained time 60 min, pH =3, Nzvi = 1g / L and H2O2 = mmol 1.
Synthesized zero valent iron nanoparticles in the presence of hydrogen peroxide has a good efficiency to degradation of sulfathiazole and it can be suggested for wastewater treatment of pharmaceutical industry.