Photodegradation of amoxicillin by catalyzed Fe3+/H2O2 process

Three oxidation processes of UV-Fe3+(EDTA)/H2O2 (UV: ultraviolet light; EDTA: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), UV-Fe3+/H2O2 and Fe3+/H2O2 were simultaneously investigated for the degradation of amoxicillin at pH 7.0. The results indicated that, 100% amoxicillin degradation and 81.9% chemical oxygen demand (CODCr) removal could be achieved in the UV-Fe3+ (EDTA)/H2O2 process. The treatment efficiency of amoxicillin and CODCr removal were found to decrease to 59.0% and 43.0% in the UV-Fe3+/H2O2 process; 39.6% and 31.3% in the Fe3+/H2O2 process. Moreover, the results of biodegradability (biological oxygen demand (BOD5)/CODCr ratio) revealed that the UV-Fe3+ (EDTA)/H2O2 process was a promising strategy to degrade amoxicillin as the biodegradability of the effluent was improved to 0.45, compared with the cases of UV-Fe3+/H2O2 (0.25) and Fe3+/H2O2 (0.10) processes. Therefore, it could be deduced that EDTA and UV light performed synergetic catalytic effect on the Fe3+/H2O2 process, enhancing the treatment efficiency. The degradation mechanisms were also investigated via UV-Vis spectra, and high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectra. The degradation pathway of amoxicillin was further proposed.