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Degradation of the emerging concern pollutant ampicillin in aqueous media by sonochemical advanced oxidation processes - Parameters effect, removal of antimicrobial activity and pollutant treatment in hydrolyzed urine

This work presents the degradation of ampicillin (a highly consumed β-lactam antibiotic) in aqueous media by sonochemical advanced oxidation processes. Initially, effects of frequency, power and operation mode (continuous vs. pulsed) on the antibiotic degradation by sonochemistry were analyzed. Then...

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Published in:Journal of environmental management 2020-05, Vol.261, p.110224-110224, Article 110224
Main Authors: Montoya-Rodríguez, Diana M., Serna-Galvis, Efraim A., Ferraro, Franklin, Torres-Palma, Ricardo A.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:This work presents the degradation of ampicillin (a highly consumed β-lactam antibiotic) in aqueous media by sonochemical advanced oxidation processes. Initially, effects of frequency, power and operation mode (continuous vs. pulsed) on the antibiotic degradation by sonochemistry were analyzed. Then, under the suitable operational conditions, pollutant degradation and antimicrobial activity (AA) evolution were monitored. Afterwards, computational calculations were done to establish the possible attacks by the hydroxyl radical to the ampicillin structure. Additionally, the antibiotic degradation in synthetic hydrolyzed urine by ultrasound was performed. Finally, the combination of sonochemistry with Fenton (sono-Fenton) and photo-Fenton (sono-photo-Fenton) was evaluated. Our research showed that ampicillin removal was favored at low frequency, high power (i.e., 375 kHz, 24.4 W) and continuous mode (exhibiting an initial degradation rate of 0.78 μM min−1). Interestingly, ampicillin degradation in the hydrolyzed urine by sonochemistry alone was favored by matrix components (i.e., the pollutant showed a degradation rate in urine higher than in distilled water). The sonochemical process decreased the antimicrobial activity from the treated water (100% removal after 75 min of treatment), which was related to attacks of hydroxyl radical on active nucleus (the computational analysis showed high electron density on sulfur, oxygen and carbon atoms belonging to the penicillin core). Sono-photo-Fenton system achieved the fastest degradation and highest mineralization of the pollutant (40% of organic carbon removal at 180 min of treatment). All these aspects reveal the good possibility of sonochemical advanced oxidation technologies application for the treatment of antibiotics even in complex aqueous matrices such as hydrolyzed urine. [Display omitted] •Ampicillin (AMP) sonodegradation was favored at 375 kHz and 24.4 W in continuous mode.•Antimicrobial activity removal was related to attacks of HO to penicillin core.•Based on computational analysis, thioether, β-lactam and amine on AMP are attackable by HO.•Combination of sonochemistry with Fenton-based systems accelerated AMP degradation.•A high potentiality of ultrasound to eliminate AMP in hydrolyzed urine was found.
ISSN:0301-4797
1095-8630
DOI:10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110224