Reaction Kinetics for Degradation of Ciprofloxacin and Diclofenac Sodium Apis in Pharma Wastewater by Using Cavitation.

Abstract

The persistence of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in pharmaceutical industrial wastewater increasingly threatens aquatic ecosystems and human health due to their low biodegradability and high bioactivity. Conventional wastewater treatment methods, such as biological oxidation and physicochemical separation, often fail to effectively remove these complex organic micropollutants. In this regard, cavitation-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have become viable, environmentally benign substitutes for API degradation. This study uses hydrodynamic cavitation to investigate the degradation of pharmacological APIs under different operating circumstances. The removal efficiency of certain APIs was evaluated utilizing a thorough experimental framework, with an emphasis on important performance indicators such as residual concentrations, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Kinetic analyses were performed to determine degradation rates, showing pseudo-first-order reaction behavior in most systems. Additionally, process improvement through orifice diameter adjustment and synergistic coupling with hydrogen peroxide was explored to boost oxidative performance. Results showed a significant reduction in pollutant loads, with over 85% API degradation under optimized conditions. Energy efficiency analysis suggested that cavitation is both cost-effective and environmentally sustainable, especially when integrated into existing effluent treatment plants. The findings support the use of cavitation-based AOPs as scalable, low-sludge, and sustainable solutions for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment.