This work investigated the application of a solar driven advanced oxidation process (solar photo-Fenton), for the degradation of antibiotics at low concentration level (μg L(-1)) in secondary treated domestic effluents at a pilot-scale. The examined antibiotics were ofloxacin (OFX) and trimethoprim (TMP). A compound parabolic collector (CPC) pilot plant was used for the photocatalytic experiments. The process was mainly evaluated by a fast and reliable analytical method based on a UPLC-MS/MS system. Solar photo-Fenton process using low iron and hydrogen peroxide doses ([Fe(2+)](0) = 5 mg L(-1); [H(2)O(2)](0) = 75 mg L(-1)) was proved to be an efficient method for the elimination of these compounds with relatively high degradation rates. The photocatalytic degradation of OFX and TMP with the solar photo-Fenton process followed apparent first-order kinetics. A modification of the first-order kinetic expression was proposed and has been successfully used to explain the degradation kinetics of the compounds during the solar photo-Fenton treatment. The results demonstrated the capacity of the applied advanced process to reduce the initial wastewater toxicity against the examined plant species (Sorghum saccharatum, Lepidium sativum, Sinapis alba) and the water flea Daphnia magna. The phytotoxicity of the treated samples, expressed as root growth inhibition, was higher compared to that observed on the inhibition of seed germination. Enterococci, including those resistant to OFX and TMP, were completely eliminated at the end of the treatment. The total cost of the full scale unit for the treatment of 150 m(3) day(-1) of secondary wastewater effluent was found to be 0.85 € m(-3).

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BACKGROUND: Depending on the nature of the pollutants and the level of contaminants, detoxification of various industrial effluents, as well as winery wastewater, might be difficult and/or even impossible to achieve by single conventional biological methods. In such cases, biological processes alone are not able to reach effluent standards for discharge into the environment, and therefore, a pretreatment or post-treatment is required. In this study, winery effluent already treated in a membrane bioreactor (MBR) was subjected to further treatment by a solar Fenton oxidation process, at pilot and industrial scale. RESULTS:The optimum Fe 2+ and H 2 O 2 concentration was found to be 3 mg L −1 and 350 mg L −1 , respectively. Solar Fenton oxidation has been demonstrated to be an effective process both at pilot and industrial scale, yielding after 180 min of photocatalytic treatment removals of COD, DOC and color of about 85%, 62-68%, and ∼80%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The combined MBR + solar Fenton process seems to be an effective technology for winery wastewater treatment, that can reduce the organic pollutants in the winery effluent to values below that of the Cypriot discharge limits. Moreover, solar Fenton treatment was proved capable of eliminating the toxicity to D. magna, and significantly reducing the phytotoxicity at values well below the starting values induced by the raw effluent. Industrial-scale solar Fenton treatmentAt the industrial scale, the solar Fenton operation was carried out using 3 mg L −1 of Fe 2+ and 350 mg L −1 of H 2 O 2 , which were the optimum concentrations determined by the pilot-scale experiments. The initial values of COD and DOC of the effluent used for the industrial-scale application were on average 180 mg L −1 and 47 mg L −1 , respectively. wileyonlinelibrary.com/jctb

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