Antibiotic Removal from Wastewater via Ceramic Membrane Distillation: Toward Clean Water and Antimicrobial Resistance Mitigation Aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Antibiotic residues in wastewater represent a growing concern for environmental and public health due to their role in promoting antimicrobial resistance. This study investigates the use of ceramic membrane distillation for removing amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin under various operational conditions. Two ceramic membranes, fabricated from red clay with nanocellulose and silica additives, were tested at different pH levels, temperatures, and antibiotic concentrations. Experimental results showed consistently high rejection rates, attributed to electrostatic repulsion and membrane-liquid interaction. Zeta potential measurements supported the correlation between membrane surface charge and separation performance. The study contributes to the body of knowledge on membrane-based water purification technologies and supports goals related to clean water access and reduced pharmaceutical contamination, as reflected in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.