Degradation of ampicillin in pig manure slurry and an aqueous ampicillin solution using electron beam irradiation

Abstract: This study was carried out to evaluate the efficiency of degradation of antibiotic ampicillin in pig manure slurry and an aqueous ampicillin solution with the use of electron beam irradiation as a function of the absorbed dose. The degradation efficiency of ampicillin was close to 95% at an absorbed dose of 10kGy. The degradation of ampicillin followed a “first-order” reaction rate with respect to absorbed dose. The results demonstrate that the electron beam irradiation technology is an effective means to remove antibiotics in manure and bodies of water. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]