OZONATION OF ANTIBIOTICS IN SYNTHETIC PHARMACEUTICAL WASTEWATER

In order to produce biodegradable products, four different synthetically prepared wastewaters containing cephalosporine (ceftriaxone sodium), penicillin (penicillin VK and amoxicillin) and quinolone (enrofloxacin) group antibiotics at typical concentrations encountered in pharmaceutical formulation effluent were pretreated by ozonation. BOD5/COD and SOUR (specific oxygen uptake rate) were the parameters for the assessment of biodegradability of ozonation products. The results of HPLC analysis indicated that the complete removal of each antibiotically active substance was achieved within the short time period of ozonation. Depending upon the type of antibiotic in the synthetic wastewater. 65-81 % COD and 20-98% aromaticity (UV254) removals were obtained, with a 2960 mg/L.h ozone dosage applied at pH 7 (CODi = 900 mg/L). Ozonation brought about a rise in the BOD5/COD ratio of enrofloxacin-containing wastewater from an initial value of 0.02 to a maximum of 0.33. and this ratio was increased from 0 to 0.07, 0.28 and 0.42, for ceftriaxone sodium, penicillin VK and amoxicillin-containing wastewaters, respectively.