Sulfamethoxazole abatement by photo-Fenton toxicity, inhibition and biodegradability assessment of intermediates

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials Vol. 146; no. 3; pp. 459 - 464
• Main Authors: GONZALEZ, Oscar, SANS, Carme, ESPLUGAS, Santiago
• Format: Conference Proceeding Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier 31.07.2007
• Subjects: Aliivibrio fischeri - drug effects; Aliivibrio fischeri - metabolism; Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents - metabolism; Anti-Bacterial Agents - radiation effects; Anti-Bacterial Agents - toxicity; Applied sciences; Chemical engineering; Exact sciences and technology; General purification processes; Hydrogen Peroxide - chemistry; Iron - chemistry; Luminescence; Oxygen - metabolism; Pollution; Reactors; Sewage - microbiology; Sulfamethoxazole - chemistry; Sulfamethoxazole - metabolism; Sulfamethoxazole - radiation effects; Sulfamethoxazole - toxicity; Ultraviolet Rays; Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods; Wastewaters; Water Pollutants, Chemical - chemistry; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; Water Pollutants, Chemical - radiation effects; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; Water treatment and pollution; Activated sludge; Hydrogen peroxide; Biodegradability; Pollutant behavior; Toxicity; Pollution control; Photo-Fenton; Waste water; Biological purification; Antibiotic; Sulfamethoxazole; Chemical oxygen demand; Water quality; pH; Bacteria; Fenton reaction; Oxidation; Pollution abatement; Inhibition; Waste water purification; Reactor; Photooxidation; Photochemical degradation
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.04.055
• ISSN: 0304-3894

The objective of this work was to study the abatement of 200mgL(-1) sulfamethoxazole (SMX) solution by means of photo-Fenton process. Biodegradability of the treated solutions was followed by the ratio biochemical oxygen demand at five days/chemical oxygen demand (BOD(5)/COD) and toxicity by Microtox and inhibition tests. Experiments with different initial concentration of H(2)O(2) were carried out. The initial amount of Fe(2+) and pH of the solution were set at 10mgL(-1) and 2.8 respectively. The temperature of the reactor was kept constant in all the experiments (25+/-0.8 degrees C). Photo-Fenton process is thought to be a successful treatment step to improve the biodegradability of wastewater containing SMX. The complete antibiotic removal was achieved for a H(2)O(2) dose over 300mgL(-1). Biodegradability (BOD(5)/COD) rose from zero (SMX solution) to values higher than 0.3 (treated solutions). Toxicity and inhibition tests pointed out in the same direction: oxidized intermediates for initial H(2)O(2) dose over 300mgL(-1) showed no toxicity effects on pure bacteria and no inhibition on activated sludge activity.