title: Degradation and antibiotic activity reduction of chloramphenicol in aqueous solution by UV/H2O2 process.
abstract: The efficacy of the UV/H2O2 process to degrade the antibiotic chloramphenicol (CHL) was investigated at 20 °C using a low-pressure mercury lamp as UV source. A preliminary analysis of CHL degradation showed that the process followed apparent first-order kinetics and that an optimum H2O2 concentration existed for the degradation rate. The first-order rate constant was used as the response variable and its dependence on initial CHL and H2O2 concentrations, UV light intensity and reaction time was investigated by a central composite design based on the response surface methodology. Analysis of response surface plots revealed a large positive effect of radiation intensity, a negative effect of CHL concentration and that there was a region of H2O2 concentration leading to maximum CHL degradation. CHL solutions submitted to the UV/H2O2 process were characterized by TOC and their activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was assessed. No residual antibiotic activity was detected, even at CHL concentrations higher than those used in the designed experiments. Overall, the obtained results strongly support the possibility of reducing the risks associated with the release of CHL into the environment, including the spread of antibiotic resistance, by the UV/H2O2 process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Materials & Environment, Sapienza University, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zuorro
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Neuroembryology, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fidaleo
authors.affiliation: Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fidaleo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Materials & Environment, Sapienza University, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Roma, Italy. Electronic address: roberto.lavecchia@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lavecchia
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012996:Solutions; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide
keywords: Antibiotic; Chloramphenicol; Degradation; Response surface methodology; UV/H(2)O(2); Wastewater