High frequency ultrasound waves for degradation of amoxicillin in the presence of hydrogen peroxides for industrial pharmaceutical wastewater treatment

Amoxicillin degradation with and without high frequency ultrasound waves of 2.4 MHz has been investigated. The concentration of amoxicillin was selected to be similar to that of outlet wastewater effluent concentration in pharmaceutical industry namely 50 and 100 ppm. The application of ultrasound waves together with the addition of hydrogen peroxide H₂O₂ increased the rate of degradation of antibiotic amoxicillin. The doses of H₂O₂ used were 5, 2, 1, and 0.1 ml in a solution of 50 ml of amoxicillin. The study showed that ultrasound waves and H₂O₂ had improved amoxicillin degradation. The ultrasound has improved the degradation rate more than two times in comparison to amoxicillin solution without ultrasound waves. This degradation rate has been achieved within 90 minutes.