Application of the Sono-Fenton Process for Doxycycline Degradation Using Taguchi’s Experimental Designs

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the sono-Fenton method via the oxidation of a tetracycline antibiotic molecule: doxycycline hyclate (DXC), chosen as a model compound due to its regular detection in wastewater treatment plant effluents. Taguchi's statistical method was applied via the orthogonal and full experimental designs to optimize the influential parameters. The study’s results showed that the concentration of the oxidizing agent (H2O2) was the most effective factor for DXC degradation. The optimum conditions for antibiotic removal were initial DXC concentration at level 1 (0.5 mg L−1), H2O2 concentration at level 2 (1.25 mM), and catalyst concentration at level 2 (0.65 mM). The results showed that the value predicted theoretically and determined via a matrix model for degradation efficiency was confirmed by the experimental value, which deviated by 3.11%. The various products obtained, characterized by UV-vis and HPLC, showed the transformation of DXC molecules by sono-Fenton oxidation.