Water treatment adsorption and UV photodecomposition processes for antibiotics: Cephalexin and Amoxicillin

Abstract

The developed of water treatment process to adsorb and decompose the pharmaceutical antibiotic amoxicillin and cephalexin using iron oxide –hematite, quitosan and UV radiation. The equilibrium time te= 180 min and the removal percentage for amoxicillin was 90% similar with those found in literature. In same experimental parameters the Cephalexin removal percentage was 25% some parameter have been alter to promote the photodecomposition such antibiotic mixture. The results confirm an indicate the possible use of UV photodecomposition reaction as a promising water treatment to treat, adsorb and decompose antibiotic residues in the environment.