Degradation of ciprofloxacin by using

hydrodynamic cavitation
Author List: Pradeep Chandane; Prof. G.D. Gawande

Email: pradeepchandane12gmail.com

Abstract:

Degradation of ciprofloxacin using hydrodynamic cavitation in aqueous solution and the factors
affecting the degradation process will be investigated. Ciprofloxacin is used worldwide as a
human and veterinary medicine. Ciprofloxacin is a member of flouroquinolone group.
fluoroquinolones have been detected in domestic wastewaters in concentrations up to 1,000–600
ng/L. The presence of ciprofloxacin in aquatic environments may pose serious threats to the
ecosystem, human health, so it should be removed from wastewater. Ciprofloxacin is chosen as a
model antibiotic. Degradation of ciprofloxacin will be carried out on cavitating device. Orifice
plate will be used as cavitating device to create pressure difference. Effect of different cross
sectional area of orifice plates with different number of holes will be used for cavitation, and
their effects on degradation will be studied. Also the effects of different pH will be studied.
Keywords: Wastewater, Hydrodynamic cavitation, ciprofloxacin, Orifice plate

Introduction:
Water from households, industries, hospitals, etc., containing various pollutants, is sent to
a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) before being discharged in natural effluents. Of a recent
interest has been the issue of waters containing pharmaceuticals. Namely, it has been discovered
that conventional WWTPs only partially remove selected drugs. Consequently low quantities of
pharmaceuticals are found in above- and ground water sources, even reaching sources of
drinking water. The presence of low quantities of antibiotics in the aquatic environment is
suspected to cause the increase in bacteria resistance. Numerous studies have reported measuring
pharmaceuticals at parts-per-trillion to parts-per-billion concentrations in aquatic systems. Since
these micro constituents are present in much lower concentrations than conventional
contaminants, it is difficult to remove them in the presence of organic and inorganic matrices that
are a thousand to a million fold more abundant. Although the toxicity of continual low-level
exposure to these compounds by humans is uncertain and these emerging pollutants are
unregulated, studies have shown adverse effects to aquatic microorganisms and fish. To date, an
effective strategy to mitigate these unforeseen micro constituents from the aquatic environment
does not exist.
In this study, the impact of different parameters on the degradation of ciprofloxacin by
hydrodynamic cavitation will be investigated, including the concentration of ciprofloxacin, pH.
The corresponding degradation kinetics will be quantified.