Introduction: Antibiotics are among the most persistent pollutants in aquatic environments, posing ecological and health risks. This study evaluated the degradation of tetracycline in aqueous solutions using ozone-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs).
Methods: Ozone (O3), O3/UV, and O3/H2O2 systems were compared under varying operational conditions in a batch reactor. The effects of pH, oxidant dosage, and reaction time on degradation efficiency were assessed. Biotoxicity and biodegradability changes were monitored using E. coli inhibition and the BOD5/COD ratio.
Results: The O3/H2O2 system achieved the highest degradation efficiency (99.2%) and improved wastewater biodegradability (BOD5/COD = 0.67). In contrast, single ozonation achieved 69.2% removal. The combination of ozone and hydrogen peroxide significantly reduced effluent toxicity, lowering E. coli inhibition by 6.34%.
Conclusion: The synergistic O3/H2O2 process demonstrated superior performance in tetracycline removal and detoxification, highlighting its potential as a sustainable and effective pre-treatment for pharmaceutical wastewater.