Removal of Florfenicol Antibiotic from Aquaculture Effluent Using an Integrated Strategy of Advanced Oxidation and Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (AOP/MBBR)

Antibiotics have a wide range of applications in aquaculture, which has led to pollution in the effluents. The present study aimed to investigate the removal of the Florfenicol antibiotic from the effluent of aquaculture, using a combined method of Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and the Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) biological treatment. This experimental and interventionist study was conducted on a pilot scale. In the AOP, we investigated the effects of pH, initial concentration of Florfenicol, H2O2 oxidant, and time on the removal of antibiotics from water solution under constant light conditions (55 watts).  In the MBBR biological treatment method, we used an aerobic pilot plant with activated sludge. After treating the effluent for 12 hours with biological treatment, we applied AOP to the samples. Our experiment used the Response Surface Method (RSM) and Central Composite Design (CCD). 68 different experimental phases were designed. To ensure the reproducibility of the results, each experiment was repeated three times, and the mean values were reported. Based on the results, the best conditions for removing florfenicol consisted of pH 4, 50 ppm H2O2, 75 minutes, and 20 ppm antibiotic concentration. This resulted in a 93.2% removal rate. In the AOP+MBBR process, a removal efficiency of 96.7% was achieved. The average COD removal in the AOP process was 59.68%, and in the AOP+MBBR process, it was 67.4%. According to the results of the present study, it can be concluded that the combined method of UV/AOP (H2O2) and MBBR has a significant effect on the removal of florfenicol from the water solution.