Amoxicillin sun exposure
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Amoxicillin and Sun Exposure: Degradation and Environmental Impact
Photocatalytic Degradation of Amoxicillin
Photocatalysis and Sunlight Exposure
Amoxicillin (AMX), a widely used β-lactam antibiotic, can be degraded through photocatalytic processes. Research has shown that using TiO2 photocatalysis under UV-A (365 nm) and sunlight exposure can effectively degrade AMX in aqueous solutions. The degradation efficiency can be further enhanced by coupling photocatalysis with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and sonication. Optimal conditions for maximum degradation (80%) include an AMX concentration of 30 mg/l, TiO2 dosage of 450 mg/l, H2O2 concentration of 150 mg/l, and a pH of 7.0 under UV irradiation (672 W/m2).
Enhanced Degradation with H2O2 and Sonication
The addition of H2O2 and sonication significantly improves the rate kinetics of AMX degradation. However, the maximal removal efficiency remains relatively unchanged, indicating that while these methods accelerate the process, they do not necessarily increase the total amount of AMX degraded. This method has proven efficient for treating real pharmaceutical wastewater, reducing the reaction time required for achieving targeted degradation levels.
UV and UV/H2O2 Processes for Amoxicillin Removal
Direct UV-C and UV/H2O2 Photolytic Processes
Another study investigated the degradation of AMX using direct UV-C and UV/H2O2 photolytic processes. The degradation rates in both processes followed pseudo first-order kinetics, with the rates increasing up to six-fold with the addition of 10 mM H2O2 compared to direct photolysis alone. Despite the enhanced degradation rates, both processes achieved low mineralization, with a maximum of 50% total organic carbon (TOC) removal after 80 minutes of reaction time.
Antibacterial Activity and Photoproducts
The study also examined the antibacterial activity of the treated AMX solutions. The UV/H2O2 process effectively eliminated any antibacterial activity from AMX and its intermediate photoproducts after 20 minutes of contact time with a 10 mM H2O2 dose. This indicates that while the UV/H2O2 process generates bioactive photoproducts initially, it ultimately neutralizes the antibacterial properties of AMX and its degradation products.
Conclusion
Photocatalytic degradation of amoxicillin using TiO2 under sunlight and UV exposure, especially when combined with H2O2 and sonication, presents a promising method for managing residual antibiotics in pharmaceutical wastewater. Additionally, UV and UV/H2O2 processes offer effective degradation pathways, although they may produce bioactive photoproducts that require further treatment to eliminate antibacterial activity. These findings highlight the potential of advanced oxidation processes in mitigating the environmental impact of pharmaceutical contaminants.
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