Oxidation of Ketoconazole in Aqueous Media via UV/TiO2 and UV/H2O2 Processes

ketoconazole is an antifungal medication used to treat a number of fungal infections, residual amounts of this have potential adverse effects on ecological health. In this study, for the first time, advanced oxidation process using UV light together with TiO2 and H2O2 was evaluated for the degradation of ketoconazole (KNZ). A direct imposed irradiation photo reactor with a 250-W mercury lamp with the maximum emission of 365 nm was used. For optimizing of the photocatalytic processes, the method of OFAT was used. The influence of various parameters including concentrations of KNZ, dosages of TiO2 and pH on the performance has been investigated. Under the optimum conditions of [KNZ] = 20 mg/L, [TiO2] = 1600 mg/L, pH = 3.5 and during 80 min, about 86% degradation was achieved. Under the mentioned condition and at presence of 50 mg/L of H2O2 the obtained degradation efficiencies exceed 84% after 55 min. Moreover, the rate of degradation via the processes were formulated adequately well on the base of pseudo-first-order kinetic model. In addition the electrical energy consumption are obtained at optimum condition and compared with the pervious similar processes