title: Levofloxacin ozonation in water: rate determining process parameters and reaction pathway elucidation.
abstract: Ozonation of the quinolone antibiotic levofloxacin was investigated with focus on both the levofloxacin degradation rate and degradation product formation. Degradation was about 2 times faster at pH 10 compared to pH 3 and 7 explained by direct ozonation at the unprotonated N4('), one of the tertiary amines of the piperazinyl substituent. H2O2 concentration (2-100 microM) had only limited effect. Liquid chromatography - high resolution mass spectrometry revealed degradation at the piperazinyl substituent and the quinolone moiety, with the relative importance of both pathways being strongly affected by changes in pH. Levofloxacin N-oxide concentrations reached up to 40% of the initial levofloxacin concentration during ozonation at pH 10. Degradation at the quinolone moiety resulted in isatin and anthranilic acid type metabolites, probably formed through reaction with hydroxyl radicals. Ab initio molecular orbital calculations predicted radical attack mainly at C2 of the quinolone moiety. This is the carbon atom with the largest Fukui function. Reaction with ozone is expected to mainly occur at N(4)('), characterized by the largest negative charge.
authors.affiliation: Research Group EnVOC, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bavo De
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Witte
authors.forename: Herman Van
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Langenhove
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hemelsoet
authors.forename: Kristof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Demeestere
authors.forename: Patrick De
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Wispelaere
authors.forename: Veronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Van Speybroeck
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dewulf
mesh_terms: D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D064704:Levofloxacin; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010126:Ozone / Q000737:chemistry*; D011789:Quantum Theory; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D020002:tert-Butyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D014867:Water; D010126:Ozone; D064704:Levofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D020002:tert-Butyl Alcohol