Photocatalytic process using magnesium oxide nanoparticles for amoxicillin removal from aqueous solution

Excessive consumption of antibiotics and their incomplete metabolization in human and animals, as well as inadequate removal by conventional waste water system leads to the release of these chemicals into the environment. Antibiotics have adverse effects including bacterial resistance, digestive disorders and genotoxic. Therefore the aim of this study was to survey amoxicillin removal by photocatalytic process using magnesium oxide nanoparticles. This experimental study was carried in the form of batch in the laboratory. In this study, independent parameters including pH (3, 7, 11), magnesium oxide nanoparticles concentration (250, 500, 750 ml/L) and reaction time (30, 60, 90) were evaluated for getting high mineralization efficiency.  In order to achieve the optimal experimental conditions, response surface methodology (RSM) model was designed and applied. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for data analysis. According to the obtained results, the effect of independent parameters including pH and nanoparticles on removal process was significant (p-value<0.05) and the highest efficiency for mineralization of amoxicillin was achieved 79.0% in optimum condition pH: 11, nanoparticle concentration: 500 mg/L and reaction time: 90 min. Photocatalytic process using magnesium oxide can be considered as an effective method for amoxicillin removal from aqueous solution.