Electrochemical oxidation of amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin and erythromycin in water: Effect of experimental factors on COD removal.

An alternative method of electrochemical oxidation was employed to degrade persistent compounds in the form of antibiotics using strong oxidizing agents such as hydroxyl ions. A 24 factorial design was employed to check the effect of four factors namely pH, current density, electrolysis time and electrolyte concentration set at their high (+) and low (-) levels on the antibiotics (amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin and erythromycin) degradation in water. The response was obtained in the form of COD (chemical oxygen demand) removal.