Photocatalytic removal of fluoroquinolones and their antimicrobial activity from water matrices at trace levels: a comparison of commercial TiO2 catalysts

Author(s)

Lima Venancio, Wilson Augusto ^[1] ; Rodrigues-Silva, Caio ^[2] ; Maniero, Milena Guedes ^[1] ; Guimaraes, Jose Roberto ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Sch Civil Engn Architecture & Urban Design, POB 6143, BR-13083889 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Chem, Dept Analyt Chem, POB 6154, BR-13084971 Campinas, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; v. 78, n. 8, p. 1668-1678, NOV 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 3

Abstract

In this study, a solution containing the fluoroquinolones (FQs) ciprofloxacin, lomefloxacin, and ofloxacin (antimicrobial agents) was subjected to photocatalytic oxidation under UVA irradiation, employing the commercial titanium dioxide as catalyst. On-line solid phase extraction coupled to ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy was used to pre-concentrate and quantify the analytes. The process provided an almost 95% degradation efficiency for all the FQs. The TiO2 PC500 (100% anatase) was more efficient than TiO2 P25 (80% anatase) for FQs degradation. The matrix effect on the efficiency of the process was evaluated by ultrapure water - UW, simulated water - SW, bottled water - BW, and public drinking tap water - TW. Simulated water showed lower interference, compared to drinking water and bottled mineral water, due to the lower concentrations of hydroxyl radical scavengers. The assessment of the residual antimicrobial activity in the solution, when using 50 mg L-1 PC500 or 100 mg L-1 P25, showed reductions of biological activity (after 120 min of reaction) of 92.4% and 95.4% for Escherichia coli, and 78.1% and 84.2% for Bacillus subtilis, respectively. It shows that the photocatalytic oxidation process was able to not only degrade the FQs but also deactivate its biological activity in the resultant solution. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/06201-0 - Multi-equipment aproved in grant 2013/09543-7: ultra high performance liquid chromatograph coupled to a photodiode array detector and tandem mass spectrometer (UPLC-DAD-MS/MS)
• Grantee: Susanne Rath
• Support Opportunities: Multi-user Equipment Program
• FAPESP's process: 13/07817-2 - Degradation of sulfonamides and tetraciclines by UV/H2O2 and O3: evaluation of antimicrobial activity and toxicity
• Grantee: Milena Guedes Maniero Ferreira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 13/09543-7 - Residues of veterinary drugs in the environment
• Grantee: Susanne Rath
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/16622-3 - Identification of intermediates formed during degradation of veterinary drugs by advanced oxidation processes
• Grantee: Caio Alexandre Augusto Rodrigues da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 14/06064-3 - Multi-User Equipment aproved in grant 2013/09543-7: ultra high performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detector and Fluorescence Detector (UPLC-DAD-FLD)
• Grantee: Susanne Rath
• Support Opportunities: Multi-user Equipment Program