Photo-degradation of the antimicrobial ciprofloxacin at high pH: identification and biodegradability assessment of the primary by-products
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Authors
Photo-treatment for the removal of pharmaceuticals in effluents is a topic currently under discussion. In some countries effluents from hospitals are directly emitted into open ditches without any further treatment and with very little dilution. Under such circumstances photo-degradation in the environment can occur. However, photo-degradation does not necessarily end up with the complete mineralization of a chemical. Therefore, photo-product biodegradability and toxicity against environmental bacteria is of interest. Hospital effluents have often a pH around 9. Therefore, photo-oxidation (150 W medium-pressure Hg-lamp, batch reactor) of ciprofloxacin (CIP) was studied at pH 9. The primary elimination of CIP was monitored and structures of photo-products were assessed by liquid chromatography ion trap mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Five compounds were identified as probable products of photo-defluorination, -decarboxylation and loss of the piperazine moiety. These photo-products were not biodegradable in the Closed Bottle test - OECD 301D. They did not affect Vibrio fisheri in the applied concentrations. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Chemosphere |
| Volume | 76 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Pages (from-to) | 487-493 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| ISSN | 0045-6535 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 01.07.2009 |
| Externally published | Yes |
- Chemistry - Anti-Infective Agents, Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid, Ciprofloxacin, Environmental Pollutants, Environmental Remediation, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Kinetics, Photolysis, Tandem Mass Spectrometry