Response surface optimization of ciprofloxacin degradation using UV/O3 oxidation process

• Synergistic UV/O 3 method significantly outperformed ozone alone in pollutant removal (ciprofloxacin). • Optimization of UV/O 3 process achieved 98% ciprofloxacin degradation efficiency. • Findings demonstrate an effective solution for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment containing antibiotics. • Ciprofloxacin degradation via the UV/O 3 process closely follows a pseudo-first-order kinetic model. • The process reduced ciprofloxacin's antibacterial activity and environmental toxicity Advanced oxidation processes, such as UV/O 3 , offer a promising alternative for treating wastewater containing pharmaceuticals such as ciprofloxacin. However, ecotoxicity predictions suggest that some degradation by-products may be toxic to aquatic organisms, highlighting the need for complete mineralization. This study systematically evaluates the effects of initial ciprofloxacin concentration (10–45 mg/L), ozone flow rate (0.5–1.5 L/min), and pH (8–10) on degradation efficiency. Response surface methodology was employed with a Box-Behnken design, and optimal conditions were identified: a ciprofloxacin concentration of 10 mg/L, an ozone flow rate of 1.5 L/min, and a pH of 9, resulting in 98.64% degradation efficiency. The degradation process followed pseudo-first-order kinetics, with a rate constant (k) of 0.223/min. Antibacterial assays confirmed a significant reduction in inhibitory activity, while total organic carbon analysis demonstrated 76.51% mineralization. These findings highlight the potential of the UV/O 3 process to reduce antibiotic contamination in wastewater, contributing to developing more sustainable water treatment technologies.