Treatment of amoxicillin by O3/Fenton process in a rotating packed bed

In this study, simulated amoxicillin wastewater was treated by the O-3/Fenton process in a rotating packed bed (RPB) and the results were compared with the Fenton process and the O-3 followed by Fenton (O-3 + Fenton) process. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rate and the ratio of 5-day biological oxygen demand to chemical oxygen demand (BOD5/COD) in the O-3/Fenton process were approximately 17% and 26%, respectively, higher than those in the O-3 + Fenton process with an initial pH of 3. The COD removal rate of the amoxicillin solution reached maximum at the Fe(II) concentration of 0.6 mM, temperature of 25 degrees C, rotation speed of 800 rpm and initial pH of 3. The BOD5/COD of the amoxicillin solution increased from 0 to 0.38 after the solution was treated by the O-3/Fenton process. Analysis of the intermediates indicated that the pathway of amoxicillin degradation in the O-3/Fenton process was similar to that in the O-3 + Fenton process. Contrast experiment results showed that amoxicillin degradation was significantly intensified in the RPB. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.