COD REMOVAL FROM SYNTHETIC WASTEWATER CONTAINING AZITHROMYCIN USING COMBINED COAGULATION AND A FENTON-LIKE PROCESS

In this study, the COD removal of Azithromycin from synthetic wastewater (produced to have a composition similar to industrial wastewater) using a Fenton-like (Fe ˚ /H2O2) system in combination with coagulation has been investigated. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) was selected as the main parameter to assess treatment efficacy in the current study (COD˚ = 390mg/Lequivalent to 200mg/LAzithromycin). First, the coagulation process was carried out on the synthetic wastewater and the optimum conditions were determined and calculated. According to the results of this experiment, Poly Aluminum Chloride (PAX-18) was selected as the most appropriate coagulant. The results of the coagulation process indicated that COD removal efficacy under the optimum conditions of PAX-18 100mg/Land pH 7.0 was 82.14%. Then, a Fenton-like oxidation process was performed on the effluent of the coagulation process. The optimum conditions were determined and calculated for the Fenton-like process: [Fe ˚ ] = 0.36 mM/l, [H2O2]= 0.38 mM/l, and [pH]=7.0. Finally, in combined treatment (coagulation and the Fenton-like process together), the COD removal rose to 96.89% under optimum conditions. The findings of this study demonstrate that the combined processes of coagulation and Fenton-like oxidation under optimum conditions can play an important role in the COD removal of Azithromycin from industrial wastewater.