Influence of various operational parameters on the photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin in aqueous media: a short review

Ciprofloxacin (CIP) is a frequently prescribed antibiotic for various medicinal purposes that have been detected in surface water, wastewater, and wastewater treatment plants. It is a persistent organic pollutant due to its halogenated heterocyclic structure and high chemical stability at a wide range of pH. The presence of CIP in wastewater treatment plants is an indication that the antibiotic could not be removed via conventional methods. Recently, various researchers have reported the successful elimination of CIP from polluted water via photocatalytic degradation. The degradation efficacy of a photocatalyst is in direct relation to the choice of the photocatalyst and the experimental conditions employed. This review elaborates on the available literature on the photocatalytic degradation of CIP and the role of various operational parameters including photocatalyst type, modification and dosage, initial substrate concentration, pH of the reaction medium, and ionic components on the photocatalytic degradation of CIP in aqueous media. The obtained results revealed that better degradation results are recorded using various catalysts at acidic pH values, and up to 100% degradation efficiency can be achieved with catalyst modification.