Evaluation of the degradation of acetaminophen by the filamentous fungus Scedosporium dehoogii using carbon-based modified electrodes

Abstract

The nonpathogenic filamentous fungus Scedosporium dehoogii was used for the first time to study the electrochemical biodegradation of acetaminophen (APAP). A carbon fiber microelectrode (CFME) modified by nickel tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine (p-NiTSPc) and a carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified with coffee husks (CH) were prepared to follow the kinetics of APAP biodegradation. The electrochemical response of APAP at both electrodes was studied by cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry. p-NiTSPc-CFME was suitable to measure high concentrations of APAP, whereas CH-CPE gave rise to high current densities but was subject to the passivation phenomenon. p-NiTSPc-CFME was then successfully applied as a sensor to describe the kinetics of APAP biodegradation: this was found to be of first order with a kinetics constant of 0.11 day(-1) (at 25 °C) and a half-life of 6.30 days. APAP biodegradation by the fungus did not lead to the formation of p-aminophenol (PAP) and hydroquinone (HQ) that are carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic (CMR). Graphical Abstract The kinetics of APAP biodegradation, followed by a poly-nickel tetrasulfonated phtalocyanine modified carbon fiber microelectrode.

Putative Role of Flavobacterium, Dokdonella and Methylophilus Strains in Paracetamol Biodegradation

“…Due to the fact that the paracetamol secondary metabolites can be persistent and more toxic than the drug itself it is essential to verify their fate in biological systems (Wu et al 2012;Marchlewicz et al 2015;Peake et al 2016;Torun et al 2015;Mbokou et al 2016). The major route for biodegradation of paracetamol in microbes was proposed to yield 4-aminophenol and hydroquinone as main intermediates before ring fission and subsequent total mineralization (Wu et al 2012;Zhang et al 2013).…”

“…For example, in France 3303.08 tonnes were consumed in year (Vulliet and Cren-Olivé, 2011). It is considered an emerging pollutant due to its widespread global use and to the fact that it is readily accumulated in aquatic ecosystems with adverse effects (De Gusseme et al 2011;Wu et al 2012;Mbokou et al 2016). Though paracetamol appears to be well removed during sewage treatment when compared to other pharmaceuticals, its concentrations detected in surface waters ranges from 110 to 10000 ng/L (Wilkinson et al 2017).…”

“…However, there is a lack of information about the environmental behavior of the human metabolites of paracetamol and respective transformation products resulting from their physicochemical and microbial removal in sewage treatment facilities (Peake et al 2016). Yet, given that these metabolites can be persistent and some are even more toxic than the parent compound, it is essential to determine their fate in biological systems (Wu et al 2012;Marchlewicz et al 2015;Peake et al 2016;Torun et al 2015;Mbokou et al 2016) and, hence, to search for new and effective ways to degrade or remove them from wastewater and resulting treated effluents. In this regard, biodegradation may represent a low-cost effective solution (Wu et al 2012), though several advanced oxidation processes have also been extensively studied for the degradation of paracetamol (e.g.…”

Enhanced voltammetric detection of paracetamol by using carbon nanotube modified electrode as an electrochemical sensor

“…It is the best substitute for patients who are sensitive to aspirin, which is also used as an analgesic [7][8]. Normally, PC does not have any harmful side effects, as it is completely metabolized into inactive metabolites that can easily be excreted via urine [9], whereas the overdoses of PC can lead to hepatic-toxicity and nephron-toxicity [10][11][12][13]. Due to its growing use, defecated PC together with PC disposal in manufacturing industrial effluents raise its presence in water source systems [14].…”

An overview of recent developments of carbon-based sensors for the analysis of drug molecules

“…Electrochemical sensing of PC is known to be very interesting due to its routine usage for various treatments. Usually, PC has no adverse side effects as it is entirely metabolized into inactive metabolites, which can be quickly excreted by urine [40]. However, the overdose of this drug may lead to inflammation of the pancreas, depletion of glutathione, fulminating hepatotoxicity, kidney problems and nephrotoxicity [41].…”