title: Experimental design of Fenton and photo-Fenton reactions for the treatment of ampicillin solutions.
abstract: This paper discusses the degradation of the antibiotic ampicillin (AMP) by Fenton and photo-Fenton reactions. The influence of the three main variables that govern the degradation kinetic (pH, H(2)O(2) and Fe(II) concentrations) was evaluated with a circumscribed central composite (CCC) model and a response surface methodology (RSM). The optimal conditions for Fenton and photo-Fenton reactions are very similar: pH 3.5, around 400 micromol L(-1) H(2)O(2) and 87 micromol L(-1) Fe(II). Under such optimized conditions, the complete AMP removal was reached after 10 min and 3 min for Fenton and photo-Fenton reactions, respectively. A very similar removal profile in the first 2 min of reaction was observed for both systems with a high degree of degradation (close to 90%). After a 2-min treatment, the Fenton reaction became slower, and the IR product analysis suggests the formation of different oxidation intermediates. This observation was confirmed by the COD and TOC evolution during the reactions. The oxidation degree, measured as Average Oxidation State (AOS), indicates that the photo-Fenton reaction produces faster most of the oxidation intermediates. The antibacterial activity (AA) of the oxidized samples was determined using the inhibition halo methodology on agar plates cultured with Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The course of AA is concomitant with the AMP removal, which indicates that the long-term intermediates do not present antibiotic properties.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rozas
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Contreras
authors.forename: M Angélica
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mondaca
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez-Moya
authors.forename: Héctor D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Mansilla
mesh_terms: D000667:Ampicillin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D007700:Kinetics; D008956:Models, Chemical; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D012996:Solutions; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; C045076:Fenton's reagent; D012996:Solutions; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D000667:Ampicillin; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D007501:Iron