SMX degradation by ozonation and UV radiation: A kinetic study

► Less effective degradation by ozonation than by UV for Sulfamethoxazole (SMX). ► SMX degradation by ozonation and UV well fitted to a pseudo first-order kinetic model. ► UV pretreatment boosts efficient ozonation of SMX in presence of humic acid. ► Alkalinity, NOM, ozone concentration and UV intensity largely affect SMX degradation. The rate constants of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradation by ozonation and UV254 radiation were investigated under various parameters including influent ozone gas concentration, initial SMX concentration, UV light intensity, ionic strength, water quality in terms of varying anions (bicarbonate, sulfate and nitrate), humic acid (HA) and pH. The results indicated that the removal of SMX by ozonation and UV254 radiation fitted well to a pseudo first-order kinetic model and the rate constants were in the range of (0.9–9.8)×10−3 and (1.7–18.9)×10−3s−1, respectively. The second-order rate constants of SMX with ozone (kO3), under varying operational parameters, were also determined and varied in the range of (0.60–3.38)±0.13×105M−1s−1. In addition, SMX degradation through UV pretreatment followed by ozonation in the presence of HA was proved to be an effective method which can remove SMX with a low ozone dose. The results suggested that ozonation of SMX was more affected by concentration of influent ozone gas, alkalinity, and HA, while incident UV light intensity, pH, and HA were the dominant factors influencing UV degradation of SMX.