Abstract

Three oxidation processes of UV-Fe3+(EDTA)/H2O2 (UV: ultraviolet light; EDTA: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), UV-Fe3+/H2O2 and Fe3+/H2O2 were simultaneously investigated for the degradation of amoxicillin at pH 7.0. The results indicated that, 100% amoxicillin degradation and 81.9% chemical oxygen demand (COD(Cr)) removal could be achieved in the UV-Fe3+ (EDTA)/H2O2 process. The treatment efficiency of amoxicillin and COD(Cr) removal were found to decrease to 59.0% and 43.0% in the UV-Fe3+/H2O2 process; 39.6% and 31.3% in the Fe3+/H2O2 process. Moreover, the results of biodegradability (biological oxygen demand (BOD5)/COD(Cr) ratio) revealed that the UV-Fe3+ (EDTA)/H2O2 process was a promising strategy to degrade amoxicillin as the biodegradability of the effluent was improved to 0.45, compared with the cases of UV-Fe3+/H2O2 (0.25) and Fe3+/H2O2 (0.10) processes. Therefore, it could be deduced that EDTA and UV light performed synergetic catalytic effect on the Fe3+/H2O2 process, enhancing the treatment efficiency. The degradation mechanisms were also investigated via UV-Vis spectra, and high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectra. The degradation pathway of amoxicillin was further proposed.

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Authors

Li X, Shen T, Wang D, Yue X, Liu X, Yang Q, Cao J, Zheng W, Zeng G

Institution

College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China. xmli@hnu.cn

Source

Journal of environmental sciences (China) 24:2 2012 pg 269-75

MeSH

Amoxicillin
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Edetic Acid
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Iron
Photolysis
Ultraviolet Rays
Water Pollutants, Chemical

Pub Type(s)

Evaluation Studies
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22655387