PHOTO CATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF PARACETAMOL DRUGS FROM PHARMACEUTICAL WASTE WATER USING SOLAR LIGHT/ZNO

Abstract

Pharmaceutical waste is one of the major complex and toxic industrial wastes. The pharmaceutical industry produces a wide variety of products. The pharmaceutical industry uses both inorganic and organic raw materials, the latter being either synthetic or of vegetable and animal origin. Antibiotics and vitamins are produced by fermentation of fairly complex nutrient solutions of organic matter and inorganic salts by fungi or bacteria. The % reduction of paracetamol solution for sample 10 ppm concentration with various contact times 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, and 120 mins. respectively. The maximum dyes reduction at 120 mins. which is 80 % and for 90 mins. is 75 %. So, there is no large difference between these two values so we can consider the optimum time for dye reduction is between 90 mins. to 120 mins. The % reduction of paracetamol for various concentration values 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 ppm. The maximum dyes reduction at 5 ppm which is 83 % for 90 mins. As the concentration of paracetamol in wastewater increases the rate of reduction decreases. The concentration of paracetamol in wastewater is an important parameter that impacts the rate of reduction of paracetamol from the wastewater. The amount of catalyst (ZnO) used for treatment is fixed which is 0.5-1 gm/l using solar radiation as a light source. The % reduction of Paracetamol for various pHs 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 for 10 ppm paracetamol solution are 30, 50, 60, 70 and 80%. The maximum paracetamol reduction for 10 ppm which is 80 % for 90 mins at 10 pH. As the pH of paracetamol in wastewater increases the rate of reduction also increases. The pH of paracetamol in wastewater is an important parameter that impacts the rate of reduction of paracetamol from the wastewater. For an alkaline pH solution, the rate of paracetamol reduction using the ZnO/solar process will be maximum.