Optimization of a Trickling Filter System for the Removal of Ciprofloxacin from Simulated Pharmaceutical Wastewater

Abstract

The presence of ciprofloxacin, a widely used antibiotic, in pharmaceutical wastewater poses significant environmental challenges due to its persistence and potential to induce antibiotic resistance. This study investigates the optimization of a trickling filter system for the effective removal of ciprofloxacin from simulated pharmaceutical wastewater. Key operational parameters, including pump flow rate, initial concentration and contact time, were systematically varied to assess their impact on the removal efficiency of total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS). Response (RSM) was employed to design experiments and analyze the interactions between variables. The optimized parameter factors conditions achieved contact time at 8hrs, concentration at 277.571mg/l and flow rate at 6.466m3/hr. Also optimized responses were achieved, a total suspended solids (TSS) of a ciprofloxacin removal efficiency of 84.766% (actual 83.5%), total dissolved solids (TDS) of a ciprofloxacin removal efficiency of 49.27% (actual 47.3%) and biological oxygen demand (BOD) of a ciprofloxacin removal efficiency of 33.005% (actual 32.6%), demonstrating the potential of trickling filter systems in mitigating pharmaceutical contaminants in wastewater. The application of the response surface methodology proved valuable in identifying the optimal conditions for maximum removal efficiency. These findings suggested that trickling filters represent a viable option for enhancing the treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater.