Synergic catalytic ozonation and electroflocculation process for the treatment of veterinary pharmaceutical wastewater in a hybrid reactor

Abstract The research investigates the treatment of real veterinary pharmaceutical wastewater by synergic catalytic ozonation with iron-loaded zeolite A (Fe-Z) catalyst and electroflocculation process in a hybrid reactor. The wastewater was characterized by high organic content (COD =1220 mg/L) and turbidity 247 NTU. The experiments were conducted in a batch laboratory scale hybrid reactor with ozone spargers, metal electrodes, and suspended buckets loaded with (Fe-Z) catalyst. The effect of operational parameters of voltage (5−15 V), pH (5–9), ozone dose (0.2−0.4 mg/min), and catalyst dose (1−2 g/L) on COD and turbidity removal was studied with the mechanism explored. The obtained results showed the COD removal efficiency was 85.12 % and the turbidity of pharmaceutical wastewater reduced to 78 NTU at optimal conditions of voltage 5 V, pH 7, ozone dose 0.4 mg/min, and catalyst dose 1.5 g/L. The pharmaceutical removals achieved were 100 % for enrofloxacin and 90 % for amoxicillin. It is therefore concluded that the synergic process was found highly suitable for the effective treatment of veterinary pharmaceutical wastewater in the hybrid reactor as an effective option.