Electrochemical oxidation of multi-drug traces in synthetic fresh urine using BDD and DSA (Ti/IrO₂) anodes

Autor(es)

Felisardo, Raul Jose Alves ; Cerron-Calle, Gabriel A. ; Lanza, Marcos Roberto de Vasconcelos ; Cavalcanti, Eliane Bezerra ; Garcia-Segura, Sergi

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING; v. 13, n. 5, p. 11-pg., 2025-07-25.

Resumo

Human urine is an aqueous matrix with a complex chemical composition, containing high concentrations of organic compounds such as urea, creatinine, and uric acid. In addition to this natural organic load, the presence of commonly used pharmaceuticals excreted from the human body after consumption becomes an additional challenge for urine treatment. Emerging water treatment technologies such as advanced oxidation process (AOP) face significant challenges in addressing the removal of urine and recalcitrant pollutants. In this study, the electrochemical oxidation process of coexisting pollutants, ciprofloxacin (CIP), acetaminophen (ACT), and cephalexin (CPX), was investigated in a synthetic fresh urine matrix. Two commercial anodes for water treatment, boron-doped diamond (BDD) and dimensionally stable anode (DSA, Ti/IrO2) were evaluated for their capacity to remove both pharmaceuticals and urine-derived organic compounds. The degradation performance was assessed at various current densities (5, 10, 20, and 40 mA cm(-2)) to elucidate the dominant oxidation pathways. The process achieved degradation efficiencies of 98-100 % for cephalexin, with substantial removal of ciprofloxacin and acetaminophen. Electrochemical analysis indicated the coexistence of multiple oxidation pathways, including both direct and indirect mechanisms. N-species and carboxylic acids were monitored to support the understanding of pollutant degradation pathways and mineralization capacity. Mineralization was higher with BDD at 20 and 40 mA cm(-2), while DSA showed up to 30 % lower energy consumption per volume treated. These findings highlight both the potential and the limitations of electrochemical AOP for treating pharmaceutical-laden urine, underscoring the importance of electrode selection and operational conditions in designing effective decentralized wastewater treatment systems. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 22/12895-1 - Processos avançados para a degradação de poluentes emergentes: materiais catalíticos, sensores eletroanalíticos e divulgação científica
• Beneficiário: Marcos Roberto de Vasconcelos Lanza
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 23/13260-2 - Síntese e otimização de eletrodos de difusão gasosa utilizando grafeno dopado com nitrogênio para a geração in situ de H2O2 destinada à estabilização de urina em sistemas descentralizados
• Beneficiário: Raul José Alves Felisardo
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado