Degradation of lidocaine, tramadol, venlafaxine and the metabolites O-desmethyltramadol and O-desmethylvenlafaxine in surface waters

Linking drugs of abuse in wastewater to contamination of surface and drinking water

“…This was also observed in a study conducted in German surface waters where levels of tramadol were <25 ng L –1 to 381 ng L –1 and declined with distance from the WWTP discharge . Indirect photodegradation has been shown to be the main process responsible for the removal of tramadol in surface water under ambient conditions . In the present study, 2‐ethylidene‐1,5‐dimethyl‐3,3‐diphenylpyrolidine was not detected in any surface water samples, although this compound has been detected in river water samples in other studies .…”

Electro-peroxone treatment of the antidepressant venlafaxine: Operational parameters and mechanism

“…It is noted that most intermediates listed in Table 2 (e.g., No. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] were detected only at the early stage of the E-peroxone treatment of venlafaxine (e.g., within the first 15 min). On the other hand, phenolic and especially carboxylic intermediates existed in the solution for longer reaction time.…”

“…Moreover, because conventional sewage treatment process (e.g., activated sludge) usually cannot effectively degrade venlafaxine and its metabolites [7,8], these compounds can be released with the effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) into the water environment [1,[4][5][6][7]9]. Consequently, venlafaxine and its metabolites have been increasingly detected in various surface water, ground water, and even drinking water [10][11][12].…”

“…The volatilization of venlafaxine from aqueous phase is therefore negligible. Moreover, direct photo degradation and biotic degradation of venlafaxine occur at very slow rates in surface water [10]. Therefore, venlafaxine and its metabolites can remain in the aquatic environment for long time, and cause chronic sublethal and acute lethal toxicity to aquatic life [14].…”

Solar photo-Fenton and UV/H 2 O 2 processes against the antidepressant Venlafaxine in urban wastewaters and human urine. Intermediates formation and biodegradability assessment

“…Its excretion from the body follows the renal route, ends up in WWTPs, and therefore it is found in natural waters as VFA, plus its metabolites are escaping in almost 50% rate the wastewater treatment process [9][10][11][12]. Measured concentrations range from 18 to 122 ng L À1 for VFA [13], or 102 and 690 ng L À1 [11,14] which could affect the natural biota.…”