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A solar photoelectro-Fenton (SPEF) plant containing a filter-press FM01-LC flow reactor in series with a compound parabolic collector (CPC) as photoreactor, operating in batch recirculation mode, was simulated using a parametric model. The degradation of 10 dm 3 of solutions of the heterocyclic antibiotic erythromycin (ERY) in 0.050 mol dm −3 Na 2 SO 4 at pH 3.0 was used for validation. The filter-press reactor contained a platinized titanium plate anode and a graphite-felt cathode that produced H 2 O 2 from the reduction of dissolved oxygen (0.24 mmol dm −3). Trials were performed under potentiostatic and galvanostatic conditions with predominance of H 2 O 2 production, minimizing H 2 evolution reaction. The effect of initial catalyst (Fe 2+) concentration, current density (j), initial antibiotic concentration as dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and volumetric flow rate on the ERY mineralization was studied. Good agreement between simulations and experimental DOC decays was obtained. Mineralization current efficiencies and specific energy consumptions were also determined. The best performance under galvanostatic conditions was found for 0.225 mmol dm −3 ERY (100 mg dm −3 DOC), 0.50 mmol dm −3 Fe 2+ , volumetric flow rate of 3.0 dm 3 min −1 and j cath = 0.16 mA cm −2 , reaching 69% mineralization with current efficiency of 75% and specific energy consumption of 0.059 kWh (g DOC) −1. Six organic by-products were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, whereas final short-chain carboxylic acids like formic and oxalic acid were detected by ion-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography. The initial N atom of ERY was predominantly converted into NO 3 − ion, although NH 4 + ion was formed as well.

The degradation of solutions of the antibiotic levofloxacin (LVN) in sulfate medium at pH 3.0 has been investigated at pre-pilot scale by solar photoelectro-Fenton (SPEF) process. The flow plant included an FM01-LC filter-press cell equipped with a Ti|Pt anode and a three-dimensional-like air-diffusion cathode, connected to a compound parabolic collector as photoreactor and a continuous stirred tank under recirculation batch mode. The effect of volumetric flow rate on HO electrogeneration from O reduction was assessed. Then, the influence of initial LVN concentration and Fe concentration as catalyst on dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal was thoroughly investigated. LVN was gradually mineralized by SPEF process, with faster DOC abatement at 0.50 mM Fe, yielding 100% after 360 min at applied cathodic potential of -0.30 V|SHE. The high mineralization current efficiency (MCE) and low specific energy consumption (EC) revealed the extraordinary role of homogeneous hydroxyl radicals and natural UV light, which allowed the degradation of the antibiotic and its by-products with MCE values greater than 100%. Five cyclic by-products, N,N-diethylformamide and three short-chain linear carboxylic acids were detected by GC-MS and HPLC analyses. A parametric model to simulate the DOC decay versus electrolysis time was implemented for the SPEF pre-pilot flow plant, showing good agreement with experimental data.

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