Degradation kinetics of azithromycin and clarithromycin present in sewage effluents by heterogeneous photo-Fenton process

Abstract

Antibiotics can be found in sewage effluents after conventional wastewater treatments. These contaminants can cause risk to the environment and to human health, such as bacterial resistance. The present study aims to evaluate the degradation kinetics of azithromycin and clarithromycin (macrolides antibiotics) by homogeneous and heterogeneous photo-Fenton process, still little explored. The degradation of the antibiotics in water (individually and simultaneously) and in the effluents will be evaluated to verify the matrix effects. For homogeneous process, iron (III) salt wiil be used while for heterogeneous process copper-containing magnetites will be used. Copper-containing magnetites stoichiometry was previously optimized in the group. Antibiotics concentrations during process application will be monitored by high performance liquid chromatography and the concentration of residual hydrogen peroxide, copper and iron ions in solution after treatment will be determined. LC/MS analyses as well as determination of antimicrobial activity after treatment to correlate to molecular structural changes will be carried out. It is expected to contribute to the understanding of the degradation mechanism involved in this class of antibiotics, as well as to develop an efficient and applicable process for treatment of sewage effluents.