Irtiqa Imini Pishgiri Masdumiyat (Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention)

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Acetaminophen is one of widely used analgesics/antipyretics worldwide for human and animals. Electro-photocatalytic removal of acetaminophen from drinking water using zinc oxide nanoparticles immobilized on zinc electrode was investigated in this study.

Materials and Methods: This study is an applied-experimental study. The contaminated water in a batch electrochemical reactor (with zinc-copper electrodes), ultra violet-electrochemical reactor (with zinc-copper electrodes), electro-photocatalytic reactor (with zinc oxide nanoparticles immobilized on zinc-copper electrodes) is prepared by adding 50, 100, 200 mg/L acetaminophen to drinking water. The studied variables are pH (4-8), the concentration of acetaminophen in suspensions (50, 100, 200 mg/L), the UV-A lamps (120-360 mW/cm2), radiation times (30, 60, 90 min), layering of ZnO nanoparticles (1, 2, 3), and current electrical densities (3, 6, 9 mA/cm2). Ethical considerations in this study were adhered based on the Helsinki guidelines.

Results: The findings shows that the time required for the removal of the 100% acetaminophen concentration (200 mg/L) is about < 90 min using 2 layers of ZnO nanoparticle, at pH 4, current electrical density of 9 mA/cm2 and intensity of 360 mW/cm2. The time required for the removal of the 100% acetaminophen concentration (50 mg/L) is about < 60 min using 2 layers of ZnO nanoparticle, at pH 4, current electrical density of 3 mA/cm2 and intensity of 360 mW/cm2.

Conclusion: This result suggests that this electro-photocatalytic system is a suitable method for removal of acetaminophen.

How to cite this article: Kashi G, Potkee M. Investigation Electro-photocatalytic Removal of Acetaminophen from Drinking Water. Irtiqa Imini Pishgiri Masdumiyat (Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention). 2016; 4(3): 175-184.