A Comparative Study of Advanced Oxidation Processes for the Removal of the Antibiotic Sulfadoxine from Water—Transformation Products and Toxicity
Source abstract
Abstract
Sulfonamides, including sulfadoxine (SDX), are widely used antibiotics, particularly for malaria treatment. However, their extensive use has led to environmental pollution, microbial resistance, and public health risks. Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) offer promising methods to degrade such pollutants in water, though they may generate more toxic by-products. This study evaluates three AOPs with different hydroxyl radical generation principles: the Fenton reagent (H2O2/Fe2+), hydrogen peroxide photolysis (UV-C/H2O2), and heterogeneous photocatalysis (UV-A/TiO2). Heterogeneous photocatalysis showed superior performance, achieving 100% degradation and 77% mineralization under optimized conditions. Further analysis explored the effects of UV dose, catalyst concentration, and pH on process efficiency. The influence of water matrices, including Ultrapure Water (UW), Tap Water (TW), and Surface Water (SW) from the Aliakmonas River, was also examined. High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry identified 11 SDX transformation products formed during photocatalysis, with their formation mechanisms reported for the first time. An ecotoxicity assessment using ECOSAR software revealed insights into the potential environmental impact of these by-products.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts · Advanced oxidation water treatment · Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Chemical Process and Energy Resources Institute, Centre for Research and Technology-Hellas, 6th Km Charilaou-Thermi, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, Tsamadou 13-15, 26222 Patras, Greece
Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Balkan Center, 10th km Thessaloniki-Thermi Rd, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
References (63)
Show source-provided references
1. Moskalik, M.Y. (2023). Sulfonamides with Heterocyclic Periphery as Antiviral Agents. Molecules, 28.10.3390/molecules28010051 ↗
2. 5-(Sulfamoyl)thien-2-yl 1,3-oxazole inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase II with hydrophilic periphery10.1080/14756366.2022.2056733 ↗
3. Sulfonamide drugs: Structure, antibacterial property, toxicity, and biophysical interactions10.1007/s12551-021-00795-9 ↗
4. Lawton, G., and Witty, D.R. (2013). Chapter Three—Antimalarial Drug Discovery: Recent Progress and Future Directions. Progress in Medicinal Chemistry, Elsevier.
5. Catalysis and Sulfa Drug Resistance in Dihydropteroate Synthase10.1126/science.1214641 ↗
6. Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer: Infection and the rise of antimicrobial resistance10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60604-2 ↗
7. Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States: Stepping Back from the Brink
8. The Crisis in Antibiotic Resistance10.1126/science.257.5073.1064 ↗
9. Staphylococcal Infection due to Penicillin-resistant Strains10.1136/bmj.2.4534.863 ↗
10. Distribution of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) in aquatic environment in Hanoi and Metro Manila10.1007/s10661-021-09622-w ↗
11. Novel aqueous biphasic system based on ionic liquid for the simultaneous extraction of seven active pharmaceutical ingredients in aquatic environment10.1007/s11356-020-11751-7 ↗
12. The geochemistry of pesticides
13. Uluseker, C., Kaster, K.M., Thorsen, K., Basiry, D., Shobana, S., Jain, M., Kumar, G., Kommedal, R., and Pala-Ozkok, I. (2021). A Review on Occurrence and Spread of Antibiotic Resistance in Wastewaters and in Wastewater Treatment Plants: Mechanisms and Perspectives. Front. Microbiol., 12.10.3389/fmicb.2021.717809 ↗
14. Combination of Advanced Oxidation Processes and biological treatments for wastewater decontamination—A review10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.08.061 ↗
15. Recent advances in H2O2-based advanced oxidation processes for removal of antibiotics from wastewater10.1016/j.cclet.2022.06.044 ↗
16. Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) for treatment of antibiotics in wastewater: A review10.1088/1755-1315/779/1/012109 ↗
17. Liu, Z., Hu, W., Zhang, H., Wang, H., and Sun, P. (2021). Enhanced Degradation of Sulfonamide Antibiotics by UV Irradiation Combined with Persulfate. Processes, 9.10.3390/pr9020226 ↗
18. Degradation of sulfonamide antibiotics using ozone-based advanced oxidation process: Experimental, modeling, transformation mechanism and DFT study10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139446 ↗
19. Cuerda-Correa, E.M., Alexandre-Franco, M.F., and Fernández-González, C. (2020). Advanced Oxidation Processes for the Removal of Antibiotics from Water. An Overview. Water, 12.10.3390/w12010102 ↗
20. Does climbazole instigate a threat in the environment as persistent, mobile and toxic compound? Unveiling the occurrence and potential ecological risks of its phototransformation products in the water cycle10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131854 ↗
21. Spatial distribution of pharmaceuticals in conventional wastewater treatment plant with Sludge Treatment Reed Beds technology10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.439 ↗
22. Assessing the Ecotoxicity of Pesticide Transformation Products10.1021/es030038m ↗
23. Interfacial debonding of an orthotropic half-plane bonded to a rigid foundation10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2018.11.003 ↗
24. A review on emerging contaminants in wastewaters and the environment: Current knowledge, understudied areas and recommendations for future monitoring10.1016/j.watres.2014.08.053 ↗
25. Overarching issues on relevant pesticide transformation products in the aquatic environment: A review10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152863 ↗
26. Antibiotics degradation by advanced oxidation process (AOPs): Recent advances in ecotoxicity and antibiotic-resistance genes induction of degradation products10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136977 ↗
27. Review of antibiotics treatment by advance oxidation processes10.1016/j.envadv.2021.100111 ↗
28. Degradation of antibiotics by advanced oxidation processes: An overview10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135023 ↗
29. Reduction of nitrates in a photocatalytic membrane reactor in the presence of organic acids10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113526 ↗
30. Reaction Between Catalase and Hydrogen Peroxide10.1038/160041a0 ↗
31. Novel pilot scale continuous photocatalytic membrane reactor for removal of organic micropollutants from water10.1016/j.cej.2016.06.075 ↗
32. Investigation of diclofenac degradation in a continuous photo-catalytic membrane reactor. Influence of operating parameters10.1016/j.cej.2013.11.026 ↗
33. Sulfamethoxazole oxidation in secondary treated effluent using Fe(VI)/PMS and Fe(VI)/H2O2 processes: Experimental parameters, transformation products, reaction pathways and toxicity evaluation10.1016/j.jece.2022.107446 ↗
34. Sulfate radical-based ferrous–peroxymonosulfate oxidative system for PCBs degradation in aqueous and sediment systems10.1016/j.apcatb.2008.07.010 ↗
35. Enhanced Direct Photolysis of Organic Micropollutants by Far-UVC Light at 222 nm from KrCl* Excilamps10.1021/acs.estlett.3c00313 ↗
36. Mechanism and efficacy of virus inactivation by a microplasma UV lamp generating monochromatic UV irradiation at 222 nm10.1016/j.watres.2020.116386 ↗
37. Bright Future of Deep-Ultraviolet Photonics: Emerging UVC Chip-Scale Light-Source Technology Platforms, Benchmarking, Challenges, and Outlook for UV Disinfection10.1021/acsphotonics.2c00041 ↗
38. Photochemical UVC/H2O2 oxidation system as an effective method for the decolourisation of bio-treated textile wastewaters: Towards onsite water reuse10.1039/C6RA15615K ↗
39. A review on heterogeneous photocatalytic materials: Mechanism, perspectives, and environmental and energy sustainability applications10.1016/j.inoche.2024.112307 ↗
40. Armaković, S.J., Savanović, M.M., and Armaković, S. (2023). Titanium Dioxide as the Most Used Photocatalyst for Water Purification: An Overview. Catalysts, 13.10.3390/catal13010026 ↗
41. Exchange of TiO2 Nanoparticles between Streams and Streambeds10.1021/es900424n ↗
42. Determination of pKa values of some sulfonamides by LC and LC-PDA methods in acetonitrile-water binary mixtures
43. Photolysis mechanism of sulfonamide moiety in five-membered sulfonamides: A DFT study10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.01.041 ↗
44. Oxidation of sulfamethoxazole and related antimicrobial agents by TiO2 photocatalysis10.1016/j.watres.2007.02.026 ↗
45. Photocatalytic degradation of sulfa drugs with TiO2, Fe salts and TiO2/FeCl3 in aquatic environment-Kinetics and degradation pathway10.1016/j.apcatb.2009.04.014 ↗
46. Abiotic transformation and ecotoxicity change of sulfonamide antibiotics in environmental and water treatment processes: A critical review10.1016/j.watres.2021.117463 ↗
47. Plakas, K.V., Taxintari, A., and Karabelas, A.J. (2019). Enhanced Photo-Catalytic Performance of Activated Carbon Fibers for Water Treatment. Water, 11.10.3390/w11091794 ↗
48. Figures-of-merit for the technical development and application of advanced oxidation technologies for both electric- and solar-driven systems (IUPAC Technical Report)10.1351/pac200173040627 ↗
49. TiO2 for water treatment: Parameters affecting the kinetics and mechanisms of photocatalysis10.1016/j.apcatb.2010.05.014 ↗
50. Photocatalytic membrane reactors (PMRs) in water and wastewater treatment. A review10.1016/j.seppur.2010.03.021 ↗
51. TiO2-assisted photocatalytic degradation of azo dyes in aqueous solution: Kinetic and mechanistic investigations10.1016/j.apcatb.2003.11.010 ↗
52. Inhibition of the adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of an organic contaminant in an aqueous suspension of TiO2 by inorganic ions10.1016/S1010-6030(96)04411-5 ↗
53. The photo- and microbial degradation kinetics and pathways of sulfadoxine in seawater elucidated by liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141225 ↗
54. Photolysis of sulfamethoxypyridazine in various aqueous media: Aerobic biodegradation and identification of photoproducts by LC-UV–MS/MS10.1016/j.jhazmat.2012.10.059 ↗
55. Degradation of sulfonamide antibiotics and a structurally related compound by chlorine dioxide: Efficiency, kinetics, potential products and pathways10.1016/j.cej.2022.138502 ↗
56. Degradation of sulfadimethoxine in phosphate buffer solution by UV alone, UV/PMS and UV/H2O2: Kinetics, degradation products, and reaction pathways10.1016/j.cej.2020.125357 ↗
57. The European Parliament, and Council of the European Union (2008). Regulation
58. (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures, Amending and Repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC, and Amending Regulation
59. (EC) No 1907/2006 (Text with EEA Relevance), Council of the European Union.
60. Degradation of ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole by ferrous-activated persulfate: Implications for remediation of groundwater contaminated by antibiotics10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.11.008 ↗
61. Predicting azo dye toxicity10.1080/10643389309388453 ↗
62. New insights into the chlorination of sulfonamide: Smiles-type rearrangement, desulfation, and product toxicity10.1016/j.cej.2017.09.024 ↗
63. Understanding the ozonated degradation of sulfadimethoxine, exploration of reaction site, and classification of degradation products10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.08.050 ↗