Degradation of Antibiotic Vancomycin by UV Photolysis and Pulsed Corona Discharge Combined with Extrinsic Oxidants

Antibiotics are the most frequently detected pharmaceuticals in the environment creating conditions for the development of resistant genes in bacteria. Degradation and mineralization of glycopeptide antibiotic vancomycin (VMN) were examined by UV photolysis, pulsed corona discharge (PCD), and their combinations with extrinsic oxidants, hydrogen peroxide (HP), peroxydisulfate (PDS), and peroxymonosulfate (PMS). Both combinations were effective in VMN degradation and faster at pH 11 than in acidic or neutral media. Combined with the UV photolysis, HP showed a higher oxidation rate than other oxidants, whereas PMS and PDS proved to be more efficient in combinations with PCD. In contrast to low-to-moderate mineralization of VMN in the UV/oxidant combinations, PCD and PCD/oxidant combinations appeared to be more effective, reaching up to 90% of TOC removal in acidic/neutral solutions. Application of extrinsic oxidants resulted in an energy efficiency of VMN 90% oxidation improved from 36 to 61 g kW(-1) h(-1) in HP-assisted photolysis, and from 195 to 250 g kW(-1) h(-1) in PCD with additions of HP and PDS, thus showing the promising character of the combined treatment.

Automated summary

Antibiotics, especially vancomycin, are detected frequently in the environment and contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant genes in bacteria. Degradation and mineralization of vancomycin were studied using UV photolysis, pulsed corona discharge (PCD), and combinations of these methods with extrinsic oxidants. The combinations showed effective degradation of vancomycin, with higher rates observed in alkaline conditions. Different oxidants had varying oxidation rates, with hydrogen peroxide (HP) being the most efficient in combination with UV photolysis, and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and peroxydisulfate (PDS) being more efficient in combination with PCD. The combined treatment of PCD and oxidants showed promising results in terms of TOC removal and energy efficiency improvement.