Application of photo-electro oxidation process for amoxicillin removal from aqueous solution: Modeling and toxicity evaluation

A review of radical and non-radical degradation of amoxicillin by using different oxidation process systems

Pharmaceutical compounds have piqued the interest of researchers due to an increase in their demand, which increases the possibility of leakage into the environment. Amoxicillin (AMX) is a penicillin derivative used for the treatment of infections caused by gram-positive bacteria. AMX has a low metabolic rate in the human body, and around 80-90% is unmetabolized. As a result, AMX residuals should be treated immediately to avoid further accumulation in the environment. Advanced oxidation process techniques are an efficient way to degrade AMX. This review attempts to collect, organize, summarize, and analyze the most up to date research linked to the degradation of AMX by different advanced oxidation process systems including photocatalytic, ultrasonic, electro-oxidation, and advanced oxidation process-based on partials. The main topics investigated in this review are degradation mechanism, degradation efficiency, catalyst stability, the formation of AMX by-products and its toxicity, in addition, the influence of different experimental conditions was discussed such as pH, temperature, scavengers, the concentration of amoxicillin, oxidants, catalyst, and doping ratio. The degradation of AMX could be inhibited by very high values of pH, temperature, AMX concentration, oxidants concentration, catalyst concentration, and doping ratio. Several AMX by-products were discovered after oxidation treatment, and several of them had lower or same values of LC50 (96 h) fathead minnow of AMX itself, such as m/z 384, 375, 349, 323, 324, 321, 318, with prediction values of 0.70, 1.10, 1.10 0.42, 0.42, 0.42, and 0.42 mg/L, respectively. We revealed that there is no silver bullet system to oxidize AMX from an aqueous medium. However, it is recommended to apply hybrid systems such as Photo-electro, Photo-Fenton, Electro-Fenton, etc. Hybrid systems are capable to cover the drawbacks of the single system. This review may provide important information, as well as future recommendations, for future researchers interested in treating AMX using various AOP systems, allowing them to improve the applicability of their systems and successfully oxidize AMX from an aqueous medium.

Phosphate and Nitrate Removal from Coffee Processing Wastewater Using a Photoelectrochemical Oxidation Process

Water quality, whether utilized for home, irrigation, or recreational reasons, is crucial for health in both developing and developed countries around the world. For the treatment of nitrate (NO₃) and phosphate (PO₃) from coffee processing wastewater, photoelectrochemical oxidation was used. This process is mainly used to destroy pollutants through the production and use of powerful oxidized species such as hydroxyl radical (OH). It investigated the effects of Uv/H₂O₂ on electrochemical processes and the effects of various parameters such as pH, time, current, and electrolytes. The results were calculated and analyzed using response surface methodology and Microsoft Excel. Hybrid photoelectrochemical oxidation (PECO) using UV and hydrogen peroxide (UV/H₂O₂) methods removed nitrates (99.823%) and phosphates (99.982%). These results were obtained with pH 7, current 0.40 amperes, and 1.5 g calcium chloride after 40 minutes of electrolysis. CaCl₂ was more effective in removing organic compounds from coffee processing wastewater. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a 95% confidence limit was used to determine the significance of the independent variable.

Efficient removal of antibiotics from water resources is a public health priority: a critical assessment of the efficacy of some remediation strategies for antibiotics in water

This review discusses the fundamental principles and mechanism of antibiotic removal from water of some commonly applied treatment techniques including chlorination, ozonation, UV-irradiation, Fenton processes, photocatalysis, electrochemical-oxidation, plasma, biochar, anaerobicdigestion, activated carbon and nanomaterials. Some experimental shortfalls identified by researchers such as certain characteristics of degradation agent applied and the strategies explored to override the identified limitations are briefly discussed. Depending on interactions of a range of factors including the type of antibiotic compound, operational parameters applied such as pH, temperature and treatment time, among other factors, all reviewed techniques can eliminate or reduce the levels of antibiotic compounds in water to varying extents. Some of the reviewed techniques such as anaerobic digestion generally require longer treatment times (up to 360, 193 and 170 days, according to some studies), while others such as photocatalysis achieved degradation within short contact time (within a minimum of 30, but up to 60, 240, 300 and 1880 minutes, in some cases). For some treatment techniques such as ozonation and Fenton, it is apparent that subjecting compounds to longer treatment times may improve elimination efficiency, whereas for some other techniques such as nanotechnology, application of longer treatment time generally meant comparatively minimal elimination efficiency. Based on the findings of experimental studies summarized, it is apparent that operational parameters such as pH and treatment time, while critical, do not exert sole or primary influence on the elimination percentage(s) achieved. Elimination efficiency achieved rather seems to be due more to the force of a combination of several factors.

Wastewater Treatment Using a Photoelectrochemical Oxidation Process for the Coffee Processing Industry Optimization of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) Removal Using Response Surface Methodology

The elimination of organic compounds in coffee processing effluent utilizing electrochemical oxidation (ECO) as well as a combination of electrochemical oxidation (ECO) and ultraviolet and hydrogen peroxide (UV/H2O2) was explored. Then, the percentage reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) was investigated. The effect of different experimental factors such as solution pH, sodium chloride (NaCl) concentration, calcium chloride (CaCl2) concentration, electric current, electrolysis duration, and hydrogen peroxide dosage on the percent removal efficiency of the hybrid electrochemical oxidation (ECO) with the ultraviolet and hydrogen peroxide (UV/H2O2) process has been investigated. The response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite design (CCD) was used to organize the trial runs and optimize the results. The hybrid electrochemical oxidation (ECO) with the ultraviolet and hydrogen peroxide (UV/H2O2) process removed 99.61% of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) with a low power usage of 1.12 kWh/m3 compared to the other procedures, according to the experimental data analysis. These findings were obtained with a pH of 7, a current of 0.40 A, 1.5 g of CaCl2, and a total electrolysis period of 40 minutes. When it came to eliminating organic compounds from coffee manufacturing effluent, CaCl2 outperformed NaCl. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with 95% confidence limits was used to examine the significance of independent variables and their interactions.

Postharvest processing of tree nuts: Current status and future prospects-A comprehensive review

Tree nuts are important economic crops and are consumed as healthy snacks worldwide. In recent years, the increasing needs for more efficient and effective postharvest processing technologies have been driven by the growing production, higher quality standards, stricter food safety requirements, development of new harvesting methods, and demand to achieve energy saving and carbon neutralization. Among all, the technologies related to drying, disinfection, and disinfestation and downstream processes, such as blanching, kernel peeling, and roasting, are the most important processes influencing the quality and safety of the products. These processes make up the largest contribution to the energy consumptions and environmental impacts stemming from tree nut production. Although many studies have been conducted to improve the processing efficiency and sustainability, and preserve the product quality and safety, information from these studies is fragmented and a centralized review highlighting the important technology advancements of postharvest processing of tree nuts would benefit the industry. In this comprehensive review, almonds, walnuts, and pistachios are selected as the representative crops of tree nuts. Current statuses, recent advances, and ongoing challenges in the scientific research as well as in the industrial processing practices of these tree nuts are summarized. Some new perspectives and applications of tree nut processing waste and by-products (such as the hulls and shells) are also discussed. In addition, future trends and research needs are highlighted. The material presented here will help both stakeholders and scientists to better understand postharvest tree nut processing and provide technological recommendations to improve the efficiency and sustainability, product quality and safety, and competitiveness of the industry.

Treatment of cardboard factory wastewater using ozone-assisted electrocoagulation process: optimization through response surface methodology

Cardboard factory wastewater is usually known by high chemical oxygen demand (COD), color, phenols, lignin, and its derivatives, and usual treatment techniques are not able to treat such wastewaters. This study aimed to investigate the efficiency of ozone-assisted electrocoagulation process (EC/O₃) for the treatment of real cardboard wastewater. The parameters influencing COD removal in the EC/O₃ process were optimized using response surface methodology. Regard to the statistical model, the optimum conditions were obtained at current density 9.6 mA/cm², time 20 min, and pH 12. At optimal condition, EC/O₃ process removed 74.7% and 97.5% of COD and color, which was higher compared to ozonation and EC processes separately. The COD removal followed pseudo-first-order kinetic with the coefficient correlation of 0.97 and the reaction rate constant of 0.073 1/min. To sum up, the combined electrocoagulation process with ozonation could be used satisfactorily for removing pollutants from real cardboard wastewater.

Synthesis and characterization of an NH4CL-induced Eskanbil activated carbon (EAC) for the removal of penicillin G from contaminated water

Penicillin G (PG) is one of the most widely used antibiotics around the world. The release of PG in an aqueous solution leads to contamination of water resources. This study aimed to determine the efficiency of modified Eskanbil activated carbon for the removal of PG from aqueous solutions. The NH4Cl-induced activated carbon was synthesized by a simple method and used for the degradation of PG in contaminated water. Activated carbon was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis. The four main reaction parameters optimized in this study were pH, time, the concentration of the EAC (Eskanbil Activated Carbon), and initial PG concentration. The synthesized carbon was characterized and the results showed it as a mesoporous material with the BET specific surface area of 1473 m²/g and pore volume of 0.81 cm³/g. The maximum PG adsorption onto EAC was observed at the pH of 6. The PG removal of 33% at an EAC concentration of 0.1 g/L increased to 99.98% at an activated carbon concentration of 0.5 g/L. The isotherm and kinetic studies of PG removal by EAC showed that the Freundlich model (R² > 0.995) and the pseudo-second-order (R² > 0.983) equation represented the best fit with the adsorption data. EAC is recommended as a suitable and cost-efficient adsorbent for removing poisons, pharmaceuticals, and other emerging contaminants from water resources.

Recent advances in electrochemical sensors for amoxicillin detection in biological and environmental samples

Amoxicillin (AMX) is among the most successful antibiotics used for human therapy. It is used extensively to prevent or treat bacterial infections in humans and animals. However, the widespread distribution and excess utilization of AMX can be an environmental and health risk due to the hazardous potential associated to its pharmaceutical industries effluents. Besides, their extensive use in food animal production may result in some undesirable residues in food, e.g. meat, eggs and milk. Consequently, at high enough concentrations in biological fluids, AMX may be responsible of various diseases such as nausea, vomiting, rashes, and antibiotic-associated colitis. For this reason, the detection and quantification of amoxicillin in pharmaceuticals, biological fluids, environmental samples and foodstuffs require new electroanalytical techniques with sensitive and rapid measurement abilities. This review discusses recent advances in the development of electrochemical sensors and bio-sensors for AMX analysis in complex matrices such as pharmaceuticals, biological fluids, environmental water and foodstuffs. The main electrochemical sensors used are based on chemically modified electrodes involving carbon materials and nanomaterials, nanoparticles, polymers and biological recognition molecules.

Designing and modeling of a novel electrolysis reactor using porous cathode to produce H2O2 as an oxidant

The entry of toxic organic pollutants and resistant to biodegradation has increased the concern about human health. The use of advanced oxidation (AO) processes to degrade these pollutants has been developing. One of the AO processes is based on the use of hydrogen peroxide in removing resistant organic pollutants. This study aimed to develop a new reactor capable of producing H2O2 in the solution. Therefore, a porous electrode made of stainless steel with the capability of air injection in the electrode center was used. The 30 cm rod graphite electrodes were also used as an anode electrode in a 4000 ml reactor. The effects of variables, including current density (30-40 mA/cm2), time (10-30 min), and electrolyte concentration (12-17 mM/L) on the amount of H2O2 production were evaluated by Box behenken design under response surface methodology using Design expert software. The results of this study showed that H2O2 can be produced at the electrode surface of porous cathode under optimal conditions of 36 mA/cm2 current density, 16 mM/l electrolyte concentration, in 23 min, and in the amount of 34 ppm. Using a porous cathode electrode causes the maximum contact among the solution, water, and air, and increases the production of H2O2. The release of resistant organic compounds to the waste water is a serious problem to the environment. By the application of the Electro-oxidation (EO)reactor with the ability to produce H2O2, this issue is resolved. Furthermore, this technique is applied for non-selective degradation of the toxic organic compounds. •The electro-oxidation process is a useful method for destruction of persistent organic matter from wastewater.•Due to use of porous cathode in this method, contact between the electrode and the sewage is at its maximum level which increases the efficiency and speed of sewage treatment.•This method can produce H2O2 as a high potential oxidant that can reduce persistent organic properties of sewage and make the wastewater suitable for biological treatment.