Degradation of Meropenem by Heterogeneous Photocatalysis Using TiO2/Fiberglass Substrates

Abstract

Meropenem (MER), a carbapenem, is considered a last-resort antibiotic. Its presence in water bodies, together with other antibiotics, has brought about environmental problems related to the destruction of natural microorganisms and the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Herein, the degradation of MER by heterogeneous photocatalysis using TiO2 immobilized on fiberglass substrates is reported. Morphological characterization of the substrates was performed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Three pH values (4.0, 5.7, and 7.9) were tested for the treatment of MER solutions (100 mg/L). The best rate constants and MER removals were obtained at pH 4.0 (0.032 min−1; 83.79%) and 5.7 (0.032 min−1; 83.48%). Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removals of 25.80% and 29.60% were achieved for the treatment at a pH value of 5.7. The reuse and regeneration of the plates were also tested. The activity of the substrates was maintained until the fourth cycle of reuse, nonetheless, a decrease in MER removal was observed for the 5th cycle. After the fourth cycle of reuse, the activity of the substrates was recovered by a regeneration procedure involving a wash stage of the substrates with a 1% H2O2 solution in an ultrasonic bath.

Harnessing the Power of Bio Adsorbents: A Review on Sustainable Approach to Eliminate Antibiotic Residues in Wastewater for Better Public Health

“…73,76 Another research study found that lignocellulosic bioadsorbents derived from sawdust waste exhibited a 92% removal efficiency for meropenem, which increased to 96% after post-treatment (Figure 7, Table 4). 77 Further research is needed due to the importance of meropenem as the last line of defense for treating severe bacterial infections.…”

Assessment of Advanced Oxidation Processes Using Zebrafish in a Non-Forced Exposure System: A Proof of Concept

“…Another attractive type of process is based on the photocatalytic generation of •OH with ultraviolet and visible radiation. In this sense, a great variety of solid semiconductors (suspended or supported) were proposed for water and wastewater treatment by heterogeneous photocatalysis [31][32][33][34][35][36]. To evaluate the efficiency of AOPs, the decrease in the concentration of a target pollutant, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and the total organic carbon (TOC) are generally measured.…”