Efficiency of UV Activated Persulfate in Removal of Ofloxacin from Aqueous Solutions

Background and Pharmaceutical products, particularly antibiotics are emerging contaminants that cause major environmental challenges due to cumulative effects, different adverse effects, and leading to drug resistance. The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the efficiency of advanced oxidation process by persulfate activated by UV in removal of ofloxacin from aqueous solutions.
In order to investigate the removal efficiency of ofloxacin, major operating parameters including initial pH of solution (2-12), the concentration of persulfate (50-3500 mg/l), concentrations of ofloxacin (2-100 mg/l), reaction time (6-30 min), and UV radiation (8,15,30 Watt) were studied.
Maximum removal efficiency of ofloxacin and COD in optimal conditions (pH =6, persulfate concentration = 350 mg/l, ofloxacin concentration = 40 mg/l, reaction time =20 min and UV radiation = 8 watt) were 94.35% and 79.17%, respectively. Advanced oxidation with activated persulfate by UV, deceased the concentrations of ofloxacin and COD to 2.26 and 37.21 mg/l, respectively.
The results showed that using UV activated persulfate is an efficient method in removal of ofloxacin from aqueous solutions.