Factors affecting sonolytic degradation of sulfamethazine in water.

In this study, the major factors affecting sonolytic degradation of sulfamethazine (SMT), a typical pharmaceutically active compound, in water were evaluated. The factors tested included two operational parameters (i.e. initial SMT concentration and ultrasonic power), three dissolved gases (i.e. Ar, O2 and N2), five most frequently found anions in water (NO3(-),Cl(-),SO4(2-),HCO3(-)andBr(-)), ferrous ion (Fe(2+)), and four alcohols (methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, tert-butyl alcohol). Typically, the degradation rate was increased with the increasing initial SMT concentration and power. The degradation rate was accelerated in the presence of argon or oxygen, but inhibited by nitrogen. Effects of anions on the ultrasonic treatment were species-dependent. The SMT degradation rate was slightly inhibited by NO3(-),Cl(-),and,SO4(2-) but significantly improved by HCO3(-)andBr(-). The negative effects of alcohols acted as hydroxyl radicals scavengers with the following order: tert-butyl alcohol>isopropyl alcohol>ethanol>methanol. The synergetic effect of ferrous ion was mainly due to production of additional hydroxyl radicals (·OH) through Fenton chemistry. LC/MS/MS analysis indicated that the degradation of SMT by ultrasonic irradiation is mainly ascribed to ·OH oxidation. Of interest, although the SMT could be rapidly degraded by ultrasonic irradiation, the degradation products were rarely mineralized. For example, ~100% of 180 µM SMT was decomposed, but only 8.31% TOC was reduced, within 2h at an irradiation frequency of 800 kHz and a power of 100 W. However, the products became much biodegradable (BOD5/COD was increased from 0.04 to 0.45). Therefore, an aerobic biological treatment may be an appropriate post-treatment to further decompose the SMT degradation products.

Photochemical degradation of ciprofloxacin in UV and UV/H2O2 process: kinetics, parameters, and products.

Photochemical degradation of fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin (CIP) in water by UV and UV/H2O2 were investigated. The degradation rate of CIP was affected by pH, H2O2 dosage, as well as the presence of other inorganic components. The optimized pH value and H2O2 concentration were 7.0 and 5 mM. Carbonate and nitrate both impeded CIP degradation. According to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis, four and 16 products were identified in UV and UV/H2O2 system, respectively. Proposed degradation pathways suggest that reactions including the piperazinyl substituent, quinolone moiety, and cyclopropyl group lead to the photochemical degradation of CIP. Toxicity of products assessed by Vibrio qinghaiensis demonstrated that UV/H2O2 process was more capable on controlling the toxicity of intermediates in CIP degradation than UV process.