Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Photocatalytic degradation of cephalexin by UV activated persulfate and Fenton in synthetic wastewater: optimization, kinetic study, reaction pathway and intermediate products

  • Research article
  • Published:
Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We used Low pressure mercury vapor lamp activated of Sodium Persulfate (UV/SPS) and Fenton processes in two separate reactors to comparison of cephalexin (CPX) degradation in aqueous solution. The effect of pH, initial concentration of SPS, concentration of CPX, concentration of H2O2 and concentration of Fe2+ on the degradation of CPX were investigated. The residue of CPX and metabolites were determined by HPLC and GC/MS. The Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analysis was utilized for surveying the mineralization of CPX. Biodegradability of CPX in both advanced oxidation processes was evaluated by BOD5/COD in optimum condition. The results indicated that the maximum CPX removal was obtained at pH 3, H2O2 3 mM, concentration of initial CPX 10 mg/L and by increasing the doses of SPS from 0.1 to 0.2 mM, the degradation of CPX was enhanced. In this study, the most important factors for AOP efficiency was concentration of initial CPX; and then pH in UV/SPS and H2O2 in Fenton processes. The TOC measurements indicate that the UV/SPS and Fenton can efficiently mineralize CPX. CPX removed enough to achieve suitable biodegradability for a further biological process. Too, analysis of generated intermediates during the degradation of CPX was conducted by GC/MS method and a degradation pathway was proposed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Coledam DA, et al. Electrochemical mineralization of cephalexin using a conductive diamond anode: a mechanistic and toxicity investigation. Chemosphere. 2017;168:638–47.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Le-Minh N, et al. Fate of antibiotics during municipal water recycling treatment processes. Water Res. 2010;44(15):4295–323.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Frontistis Z, Mantzavinos D, Meriç S. Degradation of antibiotic ampicillin on boron-doped diamond anode using the combined electrochemical oxidation-sodium persulfate process. J Environ Manag. 2018;223:878–87.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Almasi A, et al. Application of response surface methodology on cefixime removal from aqueous solution by ultrasonic/photooxidation. Int J Pharm Technol. 2016;8(3):16728–36.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Authority, E.F.S., E.C.f.D. Prevention, and Control. The European Union summary report on antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic and indicator bacteria from humans, animals and food in 2016. EFSA J. 2018;16(2):e05182.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Homem V, Santos L. Degradation and removal methods of antibiotics from aqueous matrices–a review. J Environ Manag. 2011;92(10):2304–47.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Moreira FC, Boaventura RAR, Brillas E, Vilar VJP. Electrochemical advanced oxidation processes: a review on their application to synthetic and real wastewaters. Appl Catal B Environ. 2017;202:217–61.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Oturan N, Ganiyu SO, Raffy S, Oturan MA. Sub-stoichiometric titanium oxide as a new anode material for electro-Fenton process: application to electrocatalytic destruction of antibiotic amoxicillin. Appl Catal B Environ. 2017;217:214–23.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Popescu M, Sandu C, Rosales E, Pazos M, Lazar G, Sanromán MÁ. Evaluation of different cathodes and reaction parameters on the enhancement of the electro-Fenton process. J Electroanal Chem. 2018;808:455–63.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Almasi A, et al. Efficiency of integrated ultrasonic and anaerobic digestion of oil refinery wastewater sludge. Glob NEST J. 2016;18(4):771–7.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Xiao R, Luo Z, Wei Z, Luo S, Spinney R, Yang W, et al. Activation of peroxymonosulfate/persulfate by nanomaterials for sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation technologies. Current Opinion Chem Eng. 2018;19:51–8.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Ghauch A, Baalbaki A, Amasha M, el Asmar R, Tantawi O. Contribution of persulfate in UV-254 nm activated systems for complete degradation of chloramphenicol antibiotic in water. Chem Eng J. 2017;317:1012–25.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Lata K, Sharma R, Naik L, Rajput YS, Mann B. Synthesis and application of cephalexin imprinted polymer for solid phase extraction in milk. Food Chem. 2015;184:176–82.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Ebrahiem EE, Al-Maghrabi MN, Mobarki AR. Removal of organic pollutants from industrial wastewater by applying photo-Fenton oxidation technology. Arab J Chem. 2017;10:S1674–9.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Lopez-Lopez C, Martín-Pascual J, Martínez-Toledo MV, Muñío MM, Hontoria E, Poyatos JM. Kinetic modelling of TOC removal by H2O2/UV, photo-Fenton and heterogeneous photocatalysis processes to treat dye-containing wastewater. Int J Environ Sci Technol. 2015;12(10):3255–62.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Bahrami Asl F, et al. Removal of metronidazole from aqueous solution using ozonation process. J Mazandaran Univ Med Sci. 2015;24(121):131–40.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Cai H, Liu X, Zou J, Xiao J, Yuan B, Li F, et al. Multi-wavelength spectrophotometric determination of hydrogen peroxide in water with peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of ABTS. Chemosphere. 2018;193:833–9.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Gao Y-q, et al. Oxidation of the β-blocker propranolol by UV/persulfate: Effect, mechanism and toxicity investigation. Chemosphere. 2018;201:50–8.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Federation, W.E. and A.P.H. Association. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. Washington: American Public Health Association (APHA); 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Bansal P, Verma A. Synergistic effect of dual process (photocatalysis and photo-Fenton) for the degradation of cephalexin using TiO2 immobilized novel clay beads with waste fly ash/foundry sand. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem. 2017;342:131–42.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Almasi A, Mohammadi M, Shamsi K, Mohammadi S, Saeidimoghadam Z. Sonolytic and photocatalytic (sonophotocatalytic) removal of cephalexin from aqueous solution: process optimization using response surface methodology (RSM). Desalin Water Treat. 2017;85:256–63.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Babu, D.J., P. King, and Y.P. Kumar, Optimization of Cu (II) biosorption onto sea urchin test using response surface methodology and artificial neural networks. Int J Environ Sci Technol, 2018: p. 1–12.

  23. O'Neill CM, Cruz-Romero MC, Duffy G, Kerry JP. The application of response surface methodology for the development of sensory accepted low-salt cooked ham using high pressure processing and a mix of organic acids. Innovative Food Sci Emerg Technol. 2018;45:401–11.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Villegas-Guzman P, Silva-Agredo J, Florez O, Giraldo-Aguirre AL, Pulgarin C, Torres-Palma RA. Selecting the best AOP for isoxazolyl penicillins degradation as a function of water characteristics: effects of pH, chemical nature of additives and pollutant concentration. J Environ Manag. 2017;190:72–9.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Zazouli MA, Taghavi M, Bazrafshan E. Influences of solution chemistry on phenol removal from aqueous environments by electrocoagulation process using aluminum electrodes. J Health Scope. 2012;1(2):66–70.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Miklos DB, Hartl R, Michel P, Linden KG, Drewes JE, Hübner U. UV/H2O2 process stability and pilot-scale validation for trace organic chemical removal from wastewater treatment plant effluents. Water Res. 2018;136:169–79.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Ajoudanian N, Nezamzadeh-Ejhieh A. Enhanced photocatalytic activity of nickel oxide supported on clinoptilolite nanoparticles for the photodegradation of aqueous cephalexin. Mater Sci Semicond Process. 2015;36:162–9.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Peiris C, Gunatilake SR, Mlsna TE, Mohan D, Vithanage M. Biochar based removal of antibiotic sulfonamides and tetracyclines in aquatic environments: a critical review. Bioresour Technol. 2017;246:150–9.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Lu J, Chen R, Liang H, Yan Q. The influence of concentration of hydroxyl radical on the chemical mechanical polishing of SiC wafer based on the Fenton reaction. Precis Eng. 2018;52:221–6.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Soltani RDC, et al. Implementation of martite nanoparticles prepared through planetary ball milling as a heterogeneous activator of oxone for degradation of tetracycline antibiotic: ultrasound and peroxy-enhancement. Chemosphere. 2018;210:699–708.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Wu S, Li Y, Zhao X, du Q, Wang Z, Xia Y, et al. Biosorption behavior of ciprofloxacin onto Enteromorpha prolifera: isotherm and kinetic studies. Int J Phytoremediation. 2015;17(10):957–61.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Choi Y-J, Kim L-H, Zoh K-D. Removal characteristics and mechanism of antibiotics using constructed wetlands. Ecol Eng. 2016;91:85–92.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Rayaroth MP, Aravind UK, Aravindakumar CT. Degradation of pharmaceuticals by ultrasound-based advanced oxidation process. Environ Chem Lett. 2016;14(3):259–90.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Wu J, Zhang H, Qiu J. Degradation of acid Orange 7 in aqueous solution by a novel electro/Fe2+/peroxydisulfate process. J Hazard Mater. 2012;215:138–45.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Norzaee S, Taghavi M, Djahed B, Kord Mostafapour F. Degradation of penicillin G by heat activated persulfate in aqueous solution. J Environ Manag. 2018;215:316–23.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Sizykh M, Batoeva A, Tsydenova O. UV-Activated Persulfate Oxidation of Orange III Dye Using KrCl Excilamp. CLEAN–Soil Air Water. 2018;46(4):1700187.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Wei C, Zhang J, Zhang Y, Zhang G, Zhou P, Li W, et al. Ultrasound enhanced heterogeneous activation of peroxymonosulfate by a co-NiOx catalyst. Water Sci Technol. 2017;76(6):1436–46.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Majidi S, Rahmani A. Determination of the efficiency of electro-Persulfate process in reducing concentration of ciprofloxacin from aquatic environment by Voltammetric measurement. World. 2018;7(1):19–24.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Ferkous H, Merouani S, Hamdaoui O, Pétrier C. Persulfate-enhanced sonochemical degradation of naphthol blue black in water: evidence of sulfate radical formation. Ultrason Sonochem. 2017;34:580–7.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Lin C-C, Lee L-T, Hsu L-J. Degradation of polyvinyl alcohol in aqueous solutions using UV-365 nm/S 2 O 8 2− process. Int J Environ Sci Technol. 2014;11(3):831–8.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Tarkwa J-B, et al. Photo-Fenton oxidation of Orange G azo dye: process optimization and mineralization mechanism. Environ Chem Lett. 2018;17:473–9.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Pulley S, van der Waal B, Rowntree K, Collins AL. Colour as reliable tracer to identify the sources of historically deposited flood bench sediment in the Transkei, South Africa: a comparison with mineral magnetic tracers before and after hydrogen peroxide pre-treatment. Catena. 2018;160:242–51.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Chatzitakis A, Berberidou C, Paspaltsis I, Kyriakou G, Sklaviadis T, Poulios I. Photocatalytic degradation and drug activity reduction of chloramphenicol. Water Res. 2008;42(1–2):386–94.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Elmolla ES, Chaudhuri M. Photocatalytic degradation of amoxicillin, ampicillin and cloxacillin antibiotics in aqueous solution using UV/TiO2 and UV/H2O2/TiO2 photocatalysis. Desalination. 2010;252(1–3):46–52.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Fan X, Hao H, Shen X, Chen F, Zhang J. Removal and degradation pathway study of sulfasalazine with Fenton-like reaction. J Hazard Mater. 2011;190(1–3):493–500.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Vaiopoulou E, Gikas P. Effects of chromium on activated sludge and on the performance of wastewater treatment plants: a review. Water Res. 2012;46(3):549–70.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Epold I, Trapido M, Dulova N. Degradation of levofloxacin in aqueous solutions by Fenton, ferrous ion-activated persulfate and combined Fenton/persulfate systems. Chem Eng J. 2015;279:452–62.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Farrokhi M, et al. Oxidation of pentachlorophenol by Fenton’s reagent. Iran J Public Health. 2003;32(1):6–10.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Yuan X, Guan R, Wu Z, Jiang L, Li Y, Chen X, et al. Effective treatment of oily scum via catalytic wet persulfate oxidation process activated by Fe 2+. J Environ Manag. 2018;217:411–5.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Qian Y, Xue G, Chen J, Luo J, Zhou X, Gao P, et al. Oxidation of cefalexin by thermally activated persulfate: kinetics, products, and antibacterial activity change. J Hazard Mater. 2018;354:153–60.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Roy D, et al. Composting leachate: characterization, treatment, and future perspectives. Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol. 2018:1–27.

  52. Wu H, Feng Q, Yang H, Alam E, Gao B, Gu D. Modified biochar supported Ag/Fe nanoparticles used for removal of cephalexin in solution: characterization, kinetics and mechanisms. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp. 2017;517:63–71.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Xu X-R, Li X-Z. Degradation of azo dye Orange G in aqueous solutions by persulfate with ferrous ion. Sep Purif Technol. 2010;72(1):105–11.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Fadaei A, Sadeghi M. Efficacy study on advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) application for pesticides removal from water with emphasis on their cost aspects. J Shahrekord Univ Med Sci. 2013;15(5):80–9.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Bansal P, Verma A. Pilot-scale single-step reactor combining photocatalysis and photo-Fenton aiming at faster removal of cephalexin. J Clean Prod. 2018;195:540–51.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (GrantNumber: 96397) for its financial support. We would like to specially thank from “Social development and Health Promotion Research Center”, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, for facilitating and providing us with invaluable guidance in performing and sharing the use of the possibility of their research center.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Social Development and Health Promotion Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

    Ali Almasi, Rohallah Esmaeilpoor & Vahideh Abtin

  2. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

    Ali Almasi, Rohallah Esmaeilpoor, Hoshyar Hoseini, Vahideh Abtin & Mitra Mohammadi

  3. Student Research Committee, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

    Mitra Mohammadi

Authors
  1. Ali Almasi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rohallah Esmaeilpoor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hoshyar Hoseini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Vahideh Abtin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mitra Mohammadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mitra Mohammadi.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Almasi, A., Esmaeilpoor, R., Hoseini, H. et al. Photocatalytic degradation of cephalexin by UV activated persulfate and Fenton in synthetic wastewater: optimization, kinetic study, reaction pathway and intermediate products. J Environ Health Sci Engineer 18, 1359–1373 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-020-00553-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-020-00553-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation