Advanced Oxidation Process Efficiently Removes Ampicillin from Aqueous Solutions

Antibiotics are considered important and integral parts of modern life, and are widely used for treating human and animal illnesses, in medicine and veterinary medicine. However, they can cause environmental pollution and may lead to increased bacterial resistance even at low concentrations.

In this study, Ampicillin degradation from β-lactam antibiotic family was studied, using a surface methodology consisting of ultraviolet radiation (254 nm) and H2O2 oxidation process in an 8-watt Pyrex reactor. The variables used included the reaction time (30-60 min), Ampicillin concentration (5-25 mg/l), H2O2 concentration (5-25 mg/l), and pH range of 3-9 at three alpha levels of -1, 0 and +1.

The data were analyzed by the analysis of variance test (ANOVA), while the validity was evaluated using regression coefficients. The optimum condition for Ampicillin degradation followed a linear model, at a 60-min. reaction time and pH 3, the Ampicillin (5mg/l) and hydrogen peroxide (25mg/l) provided the maximum antibiotic removal efficiency (82%).

The results suggest a positive and significant effect for the antibiotic concentration and a negative effect for the pH. The Ampicillin concentration with a coefficient of 8.91 had the highest impact on the efficiency of the removal process. Therefore, antibiotic pollution in the environment can be reduced through the UV-H2O2 process, so as to protect human health from the associated hazards.