Survey Electrocoagulation Process in Removal of Norfloxacin Antibiotic from Aqueous Solutions

Abstract

Pharmaceutical compounds have been recognized as a hazardous class of organic pollutants due to their long term effects towards the aquatic environment. The present work studies the efficiency of electrogalation (EC) process in removal Norfloxacin (NFX) from aqueous solutions by aluminum electrodes. This study experimentally was run in a batch electrochemical reactor (1.5 L glass beaker) and six electrodes which installed in parallel. In each of test, 1 L of wastewater added to the test reactor, then effect of four parameters including the voltage 10-60 V (current density: 1,2,3 and 4 mA/cm2), reaction time (5-60 min) initial concentration of NFX and the pH of wastewater (pH=3-9) on process performance were investigated. Results of this study showed that the efficiency of the system could be promoted by increasing the contact time, initial pH of the solution, and the applied voltage. However, the efficiency of EC process has decreased, when higher level of NFX ions was presented in the aqueous phase. The optimal conditions for Norfloxacin removal were: pH 7, initial NFX concentration 25 mg/L, voltage 60 V and reaction time 45 min and the highest removal rate was under these conditions 98.4%. The results of this study indicate that EC process could be applied for the removal of NFX from aqueous solution with a high efficiency.