Mahmood Hajiani - Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran
Azam Gholami - Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran
Mohammad Sayadi - Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran

Penicillin is one of the emerging pollutants that has toxic effects on food chains and aquatic environments. It creates many problems for human health and other living organisms. Conventional wastewater treatment methods cannot remove penicillin; therefore, modern approaches are necessary to remove it from sewage. In this study, we examined the ability of TiO۲ photocatalysis in the degradation of penicillin in aqueous solutions. The effects of different factors such as adsorption, pH, catalyst dosage, the initial concentration of penicillin, and time were examined. The results showed that photolysis and adsorption had negligible effects on penicillin degradation. The maximum degradation (۹۴.۵%) was observed at an ambient pH of ۵, ۰.۱ g/l of TiO۲, and ۲۰ mg/l of penicillin for ۹۰ min. The photodegradation of penicillin followed a first-order kinetic reaction, and the rate constant (k) was ۰.۰۲۱۳ min-۱. A TOC analysis was conducted to determine the fate of the pollutant. The results showed that ۴۱% of the organic carbon was removed in ۱۲۰ min. Based on the results, TiO۲ photocatalysis is an economically feasible procedure with good efficiency in removing penicillin from the aquatic environment.

Catalyst, pharmaceutical pollution, penicillin, Photodegradation, Titanium dioxide