Ozonation of Animal Wastes Containing Oxytetracycline

The efficiency of ozonation on the degradation of oxytetracycline, a veterinary antibiotic, has been investigated in both cow manure and synthetic animal feeding operation wastewater at varying experimental conditions. With a rapid degradation of antibiotic in synthetic wastewater, ozonation improved its biodegradability and eliminated bacterial toxicity caused by oxytetracycline. The degradation rate of oxytetracycline depended on pH and applied ozone dose, but not initial antibiotic concentration in wastewater. In the case of manure treatment, ozonation efficiency in terms of oxytetracycline degradation was negatively affected by moisture and antibiotic content of manure. The degradation rate of oxytetracycline in manure slowed down upon the extension of treatment time since ozone could not react with strongly adsorbed antibiotic on manure. Increase in humic and fulvic acid carbon and mineral nitrogen content was an indicator for the improvement of fertilizing value of manure by ozonation.