CIPROFLOXACIN IN CONVENTIONALLY TREATED URBAN WASTEWATER: OXIDATION BY UV/H2O2 TREATMENT AND TOXICITY ASSESSMENT

Abstract

This study aimed at evaluating the degradation of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIP) in urban wastewater effluents, using UV-C-driven oxidation processes with H2O2 as oxidant. Various concentrations of H2O2 were examined for the process optimization. The complete degradation of CIP was achieved within 15 min of treatment under the optimum concentration of H2O2 which it was found to be 10 mg L-1. The phytotoxicity and ecotoxicity of the treated samples was investigated against one plant species and a crustacean, respectively. At the end of the process the phytotoxic effect was eliminated. In addition, this study demonstrated the ability of the UV-C process to reduce the toxicity towards D. magna since the immobilization of the organisms was significantly reduced comparatively to the untreated wastewater. The antibacterial activity of the treated samples was investigated and a total inactivation of CIP-resistant Escherichia coli within 2 min of treatment was recorded