LAUSR

Abstract In the present study, degradation of Imipenem/Cilastatin antibiotic (ICA) from aqueous solution was investigated by the integrated advanced oxidation / reduction process (AROP) of UVC/ Fe2+/ H2O2. R software using the response surface methodology was applied to investigate relationship between the input independent factors (Fe2+, H2O2, time and initial antibiotic concentration) and one dependent output response (removal efficiency). 28 runs per experimental design were obtained with generation of a central composite design (CCD). The second-order model (with p-value, 2.976 e-16; F-statistic, 180.1 on 8 and 19 DF; multiple R-squared, 0.987; adjusted R-squared, 0.9815 and lack of fit, 0.868 indicated satisfactory adjustment between model and experimental data for AROP. Based on obtained results, the optimum ranges of parameters considering both maximum antibiotic removal and minimum energy consumption were estimated: initial antibiotic concentration, 5–7.5 mg L−1; reaction time, 18.9–33.86 min; Fe2+, 0.74–1.2 mM and H2O2, 0.28-0.32 mM.