Removal of Pharmaceuticals by Advanced Oxidation Processes

                    Tereza Švestková^1,2, Pavlína Landová^1,2, Tomáš Macsek^2,

                        Michal Úterský^2, Milada Vávrová^1, Petr Hlavínek^2

^1Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 118, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic

^2Faculty of Civil Engineering, AdMaS centre, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 139, 612 00
Brno, Czech Republic


Pharmaceuticals are widely used in human and veterinary medicine every day. Due to their stability
and possibility of bioacumulation they are significantly represented in all components of
environment especially in wastewater. Conventional purifying methods on WWTPs are insufficient for
elimination of certain xenobiotics. Especially for xenobiotics which are difficult, slowly or
impossible to eliminate by conventional (mechanical -biological) methods. Due to these facts we
dealt with the possibility of removal xenobiotics by advanced oxidation processes (AOP). We chose
three groups of pharmaceuticals. First group is Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen,
Diclofenac, Naproxen, Ketoprofen) which are most consumed pharmaceuticals in Czech republic. Second
group is macrolide antibiotics (Azithromycin, Clarithromycin, Erythromycin, Roxithromycin) and
third is sulphonamide antibiotics (Sulfamethoxazole, Sulfathiazol, Sulfamethazin). The experiments
were doing on AOP unit which works with ozone, hydrogen peroxide, UV radiation and their
combinations.