Degradation of Ampicillin with antibiotic activity removal using persulfate and submersible UVC LED: Kinetics, mechanism, electrical energy and cost analysis

Laxman G Raikar; Jemi Gandhi; K V K Gupta; Halan Prakash

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140831

Degradation of Ampicillin with antibiotic activity removal using persulfate and submersible UVC LED: Kinetics, mechanism, electrical energy and cost analysis

Chemosphere. 2024 Feb:349:140831. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140831. Epub 2023 Nov 29.

Authors

Laxman G Raikar¹, Jemi Gandhi¹, K V K Gupta², Halan Prakash³

Affiliations

¹ Energy and Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, K. K. Birla Goa Campus, NH17B, Zuarinagar, Goa, 403726, India.
² Kwality Photonics Pvt. Ltd., Kushaiguda, Hyderabad, 500062, India.
³ Energy and Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, K. K. Birla Goa Campus, NH17B, Zuarinagar, Goa, 403726, India. Electronic address: halanprakash@goa.bits-pilani.ac.in.

PMID: 38040251
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140831

Abstract

Effective water treatment to remove antibiotics and its activity from contaminated water is urgently needed to prevent antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) emergence. In this study, we investigated degradation of Ampicillin (AMP), an extensively used β-lactam antibiotic, using submersible Ultraviolet C Light Emitting Diode (λ_max = 276 nm) irradiation source, and Persulfate (UVC LED/PS system). Pseudo first order rate constant (k_obs) for degradation of AMP (1 ppm) by UVC LED/PS system was determined to be 0.5133 min^-1 (PS = 0.2 mM). k_obs value at pH 2.5 (0.7259 min^-1) was found to be higher than pH 6.5 (0.5133 min^-1) and pH 12 (0.1745 min^-1). k_obs value for degradation of AMP in deionized water spiked with inorganic anions (Cl^-=0.5369 min^-1,SO₄^2-=0.4545 min^-1, NO₃^-=0.1526 min^-1, HCO₃^-=0.0226 min^-1), in real tap water (0.1182 min^-1) and simulated ground water (0.0372 min^-1) were presented. Radical scavenging experiment reveal involvement of sulfate radical anion and hydroxyl radical in UVC LED/PS system. EPR analysis confirms the generation of sulfate radical anion and hydroxyl radical. Importantly, 74% reduction of total organic carbon (TOC) occurred within 60 min of AMP treatment by UVC LED/PS system. Seven degradation by-products were identified by high resolution mass spectrometry, and degradation pathways were proposed. Antibacterial activity of AMP towards Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus was completely removed after UVC LED/PS treatment. ECOSAR model predicted no very toxic degradation by-products generation by UVC LED/PS system. Electrical Energy per order (EEo) and cost of UVC LED/PS system were determined to be 0.9351 kW/m³/order and ₹ 7.91/m³ ($ 0.095/m³ or € 0.087/m³), respectively. Overall, this study highlights, UVC LED/PS system as energy efficient, low-cost, and its potential to emerge as sulfate radical anion based advanced oxidation process (AOP) to treat water with antibiotics.

Keywords: Advanced oxidation process (AOP); Degradation by-products; High resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS); Mineralization; β-lactam.

MeSH terms

Ampicillin / pharmacology
Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
Costs and Cost Analysis
Hydroxyl Radical
Kinetics
Oxidation-Reduction
Sulfates / chemistry
Ultraviolet Rays
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis
Water Purification* / methods

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
sulfate radical
Hydroxyl Radical
Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Sulfates
Ampicillin
Water Pollutants, Chemical