Detection of Ceftriaxone antibiotic and removal via complexation with Fe (III)

Antibiotic pollution in the aquatic environment has emerged as one of the most serious ‎concerns caused by the use of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). ‎Antibiotic levels in wastewater from pharmaceutical factories and hospitals have been ‎detected at varying levels. An effective method for the removal of ceftriaxone (a β-lactam ‎antibiotic) in aqueous systems has been developed. The method uses Fe(III) to complex ‎ceftriaxone and removes it from the solution. Ultraviolet (UV) and Fourier Transform Infra-‎Red (FTIR) detection techniques were used to identify the ceftriaxone-Fe(III) complex, ‎while high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), was used to quantify the amount of ‎ceftriaxone removed. Results showed that 99.7 % of ceftriaxone was removed in 3 h by Fe ‎‎(III) ions in a 1:1 concentration ratio at pH 3.3 and at room temperature. The study ‎demonstrated that reaction time, and concentration ratio of the reactants are critical ‎parameters for effective complexation. The complexation reaction technique has the potential ‎to be used in a treatment process for the removal of ceftriaxone chemically from industrial ‎wastewater. However, a neutralization step is required to process the waste aqueous phase.‎