Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.jwpe.2025.108780
Title (Primary) Photocatalysis reaction of a mixture of ten pharmaceutical active compounds: transformation products generated under the major degradation pathways
Author Hernández-Tenorio, R.; Hernández-Ramírez, A.; Moeder, M.; Guzmán-Mar, J.L.; Hinojosa-Reyes, L.
Source Titel Journal of Water Process Engineering
Year 2025
Department EAC
Volume 78
Page From art. 108780
Language englisch
Topic T9 Healthy Planet
Supplements Supplement 1
Keywords High resolution mass spectrometry; Hydroxylation; Fragmentation; Intramolecular reaction
Abstract Pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs) are prevalent in wastewater and aquatic environments globally. Discharges from urban, hospital, and industrial effluents contribute to high concentrations and variability of PhACs and their transformation products (TPs) in municipal sewage systems, ultimately reaching wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This study investigates the photocatalytic degradation of ten PhACs, both individually and in a mixture, under simulated sunlight and zinc oxide modified with 10 % fluoride (ZnO-F10) material. Compared with ZnO bare, the doped fluoride catalyst (ZnO-F10) reduced the recombination rate of e/h+ pairs, allowing the generation of more significant amounts of HO radicals, and thereby improving the photocatalytic activity under simulated solar radiation. Monitoring and elucidation of major TPs were performed using UPLC-MS/MS and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS). Degradation percentages ranged from 12% to 100%, depending on the substance, when each PhAC was degraded individually. Three primary degradation pathways were identified: 1) hydroxylation reactions via HO radical attack, generating hydroxylated intermediates; 2) fragmentation reactions through energy absorption and HO attack, resulting in oxidized compounds via photolysis, hydrolysis, decarboxylation, demethylation, deamination, and dealkylation; and 3) intramolecular redox reactions on the catalyst surface, forming heterocyclic structures. These pathways refer to the formation of TP from hospitals and drug manufacturing industries during wastewater treatment under advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). Implementing analytical methods to identify the main TPs of PhACs is crucial for effective environmental monitoring.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=31890
Hernández-Tenorio, R., Hernández-Ramírez, A., Moeder, M., Guzmán-Mar, J.L., Hinojosa-Reyes, L. (2025):
Photocatalysis reaction of a mixture of ten pharmaceutical active compounds: transformation products generated under the major degradation pathways
J. Water Process Eng. 78 , art. 108780 10.1016/j.jwpe.2025.108780