Laboratory-scale removal of ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and amoxicillin from aqueous media using the green microalga Neochloris conjuncta
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The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the laboratory-scale removal behavior of antibiotics with different chemical structures, viz., ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and amoxicillin, using the green microalga Neochloris conjuncta, with particular emphasis on concentration- and time-dependent removal dynamics. Batch experiments were conducted under controlled laboratory conditions in aqueous BG-11 medium supplemented with antibiotics at initial concentrations of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 100 mg L?¹. Removal performance was monitored over exposure durations of 24, 72, 120, and 168 h, and residual antibiotic concentrations were quantified using HPLC-UV. The results showed that at low concentrations (5-10 mg L?¹), all three antibiotics were completely removed within 24-72 h. At intermediate concentrations (15-25 mg L?¹), a clear time-dependent decrease was observed, leading to complete removal within 120-168 h. At the highest concentration (100 mg L?¹), removal was slower; however, substantial reductions were still achieved, with residual concentrations after 168 h of 6.59 mg L?¹ for ciprofloxacin, 2.64 mg L?¹ for levofloxacin, and 4.13 mg L?¹ for amoxicillin. Removal efficiency followed the order amoxicillin > levofloxacin > ciprofloxacin, attributable to differences in molecular structure and chemical stability. Although the study was conducted under laboratory conditions using synthetic aqueous media and did not account for the complexity of real wastewater matrices, the findings provide valuable insight into the mechanisms of algal-mediated antibiotic removal. The results highlight the practical potential of N. conjuncta as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective biological agent for reducing antibiotic contamination in aqueous systems.
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