Efficiency of Sonofenton Degradation in Removal of Sulfacetamide from Aqueous Solutions Using Nanoscale Zerovalent Iron Particles

Background and In recent years, the presence of antibiotics in aquatic environment has received increasing attention. These compounds remain in the environment, because of incomplete elimination in conventional wastewater treatment processes. Advanced oxidation processes are used to remove many pollutants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of sono-fenton degradation in removal of sulfacetamide in presence of zerovalent iron nanoparticles.
An experimental-laboratory scale study was carried out in which NZVI was synthesized through reducing iron sulfate by sodium borohydride. The effects of some variables such as pH (3-9), NZVI concentration (1-8g/L), H2O2 concentration (0.05-2 M) and contact time (5-90 min) were investigated on the process efficiency. Concentration of residual antibiotic was analyzed by HPLC-UV equipped with a C18 column.
The maximum removal efficiency was observed at pH=3, 60 min contact time, 5 g/L NZVI concentration and H2O2 concentration of 1 M. In these optimal conditions, the removal efficiency was 91% and COD removal degree was 27%.
The experiments showed that the sonocatalytic process using NZVI nanoparticles along with adding H2O2 as an oxidant is an efficient method to remove sulfacetamide and other biological resistant compounds.