Catalytic ozonation of ciprofloxacin using γ-Al2O3 nanoparticles in synthetic and real wastewaters

Pollution of water resources and the environment by different antibiotics, as emerging pollutants, is one of the most concerning environmental issues. In this respect, this study investigates catalytic ozonation of ciprofloxacin, as a common antibiotic, using gamma-Al2O3 nanoparticles. The proposed treatment system can provide 93% removal efficiency at pH pf 9.5 and 10 mg L-1 initial ciprofloxacin concentration within 60 min contact time. Based on the results, ozonation is responsible for 88% of the ciprofloxacin removal efficiency, at this condition. It is while the removal efficiency of the catalytic ozonation process for real wastewaters is in the range of 14-41.18% due to the scavenging effect of the other contaminants. In general, the gamma-Al2O3-based catalytic ozonation process efficiency was a little more effective than ozonation process on degradation of ciprofloxacin in both synthetic and real wastewaters. Furthermore, the pseudo-first-order kinetics model (R-2>0.97) presents the best fit of the experimental degradation data.