Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline Antibiotic from Aqueous Solutions Using UV/TiO2 and UV/H2O2/TiO2

This study aimed to investigate the efficiency of Photocatalytic processes of UV/TiO2 and UV/H2O2/TiO2 on removal of tetracycline antibiotic from aqueous solution. All experiments were undertaken in lab scale and batch system. The effects of various parameters such as tetracycline (TC) initial concentrations، TiO2 and H2O2 concentrations، contact time، and pH were investigated. Sample volume for all the experiments was 250 ml. All the experiments were done in a 500 ml reactor at the temperature of 24±2 ˚C using a magnetic mixer at 150 rpm. Results showed that pH plays an important role on removal of TC antibiotic by UV/TiO2 process. Removal efficiency was increased with increasing contact time and TiO2 concentration. However، increasing contact time to >90 minutes and TiO2 concentrations to above 1 g/L had no significant effect on removal efficiency. Maximum removal efficiency (i. e. 91. 4 %) was obtained at pH=5، TiO2 concentration of 1. 0 g/L، TC initial concentration of 27 mg/L، and contact time of 90 minutes. Photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline well followed Pseudo-first order kinetics model (R2=0. 99). Addition of 100 mg/l H2O2 at pH= 5 and TiO2 concentration of 1. 0 g/L resulted in complete removal of all the TC concentrations used in the study، after 30 min. The results of this study suggested that UV/H2O2/TiO2 photocatalytic process is an effective process and can be used to remove TC antibiotic from aqueous solution.