Electrochemical degradation of ciprofloxacin through a DoE-driven optimization in a filter-press type reactor under...

In this work, the electrochemical degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) was studied in a filter-press-type reactor without division in a batch recirculation manner. For this purpose, two boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes (as cathode and anode) were employed. Also, the optimal operating conditions were found by response surface methodology (RSM) following a central composite face-centered design with three factors, namely current intensity (i), initial pH (pH₀), and initial concentration ([C]₀) with two responses, namely remotion efficiency (η) and operating cost. Optimal operating conditions were i = 3 A, pH₀ = 8.49, and [C]₀ = 33.26 mg L^-1 within an electrolysis time of 5 h, leading to a maximum removal efficiency of 93.49% with a minimum operating cost of $0.013 USD L^-1. Also, a TOC analysis shows an 80% of mineralization extent with an energy consumption of 5.11 kWh g^-1 TOC. Furthermore, the CIP degradation progress was followed by mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and a degradation pathway is proposed.