Photocatalytic Oxidation of Amoxicillin in CPC Reactor over 3D Printed TiO2-CNT@PETG Static Mixers

Abstract

Antibiotics present common pollution in the environment, and they are often found in surface waters. Their presence or decomposition in water under natural sunlight can cause different unwanted consequences on the environment. In this paper, we report the application of 3D printed photocatalysts shaped as helix static mixers for tentative photocatalytic oxidation of antibiotic amoxicillin. The research was carried out in laboratory conditions in a semi-pilot-scale compound parabolic reactor (CPC) with static mixers made from PETG with TiO₂ and MWCNT as fillers. The efficiency of 3D printed photocatalysts was evaluated in terms of amoxicillin decomposition kinetics using a pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The experimental results of amoxicillin decomposition and generated by-products were analyzed by using the Q-TOF LC/MS technique and presented using MassHunter Workstation.