Degradation of enrofloxacin by photocatalysis using titanium dioxide nanomaterials

Abstract This work evaluates the ability to degrade Enrofloxacin (ENR) in synthetic high concentration wastewater by the photocatalytic method using pure TiO 2 nanomaterials. The material properties, including morphology, crystalline structure, UV-Vis absorption, and surface acidity-basicity, were also characterized. The treatment efficiency of 50 mgENR/L reached over 80% after 2 h of UVA irradiation, at pH 6 and 1 gP25/L. The antibacterial level of ENR after treatment was checked by Bacillus subtilis activity. After treatment, the activity of ENR residue was no longer sufficient to cause inhibition of the bacteria while the degraded product was not toxic to it. The research results show that the photocatalysis material has a good ability to degrade ENR as well as other antibiotic residues in the water environment.