Cefixime Removal from Aqueous Solutions by Granular Ferric Oxide (GFO): Modeling and Optimization

In recent years, the presence of various pharmaceutical residues such as cefixime (CFX) in aquatic environments has been gaining attention due to its adverse effects on health and ecosystems. Since conventional treatment methods are unable to remove antibiotics, sustainable and efficient approaches are needed to remove these compounds from aquatic environments. In this study, granular ferric oxide (GFO) was used to remove CFX, and the experiments were designed using Design Expert software. The findings were then analyzed using ANOVA test. The results showed that the proposed regression model fit the experimental condition (R2=0.9701, R2 adjusted=0.9432, R2 predicted=0.83). Several residual plots were used to confirm the suitability of the model. The initial concentration of 1.84 mg/L, GFO dose of 3.05 mg/L, and contact time of 24.32 minutes were found to be the ideal conditions for CFX adsorption. Moreover, the findings showed that GFO can be effective in absorbing and removing CFX from aqueous environments.