M. MellaD. MessinaP. BaezaOjeda, JuanJuanOjeda2025-12-062025-12-062024-05-0610.1007/s13762-024-05658-w2-s2.0-85192140835https://cris-uv-2.scimago.es/handle/123456789/7028WOS:001214885900001The comparison of the efficiency of the removal process of two antibiotics, Ciprofloxacin and Moxifloxacin, from aqueous solutions, between an adsorption–photolysis and adsorption–photocatalysis processes, was studied. In the adsorption–photolysis process were used the inorganic supports activated carbon, silica and alumina, while in the adsorption–photocatalysis the titanium dioxide photocatalyst was used as adsorbent. The adsorption process of Ciprofloxacin and Moxifloxacin was carried out in a rotary shaker at 200 rpm, at a temperature of 30°, at a pH of 5.5 for a period of time of 3 h, using an initial concentration of both pharmaceutical compounds of 75 mg L−1. The degradation of antibiotics adsorbed on inorganic supports was carried out by direct photolisys with UV-C radiation of 180 mW cm−2, while to the photocatalitic process were irradiate with UV-A radiation with an irradiance of 0.45 mW cm−2. Results demonstrate that activated carbon and silica were the systems with the higher adsorption capacity, while the alumina and titanium dioxide obtained the lower adsorption values. The degradation of the adsorbed pharmaceutical compounds on inorganics supports by photolysis reached values higher than 88%, while in the case of the adsorbed–photocatalysis process the degradation values were higher than 91%. The most efficient systems for the removal of Ciprofloxacin or Moxifloxacin from water sources in the experimental conditions was the adsorption–photolysis process that used active carbon as support inorganic with a remotion factor value of 0.99. In the case of the adsorption–photocatalysis process, the remotion factor calculated was close to 0.52.enacceso restringidoAgricultural And Biological SciencesEnvironmental SciencesEnvironmental ChemistryEnvironmental Engineeringarticle; early access