Degradation and Loss of Antibacterial Activity of Commercial Amoxicillin with TiO2/WO3-Assisted Solar Photocatalysis

In this study, a TiO2 catalyst, modified with tungsten oxide (WO3), was synthesized to reduce its bandgap energy (Eg) and to improve its photocatalytic performance. For the catalyst evaluation, the effect of the calcination temperature on the solar photocatalytic degradation was analyzed. The experimental runs were carried out in a CPC (compound parabolic collector) pilot-scale solar reactor, following a multilevel factorial experimental design, which allowed analysis of the effect of the calcination temperature, the initial concentration of amoxicillin, and the catalyst load on the amoxicillin removal. The most favorable calcination temperature for the catalyst performance, concerning the removal of amoxicillin, was 700 °C; because it was the only sample that showed the rutile phase in its crystalline structure. Regarding the loss of the antibiotic activity, the inhibition tests showed that the treated solution of amoxicillin exhibited lower antibacterial activity. The highest amoxicillin removal achieved in these experiments was 64.4% with 100 ppm of amoxicillin concentration, 700 °C of calcination temperature, and 0.1 g L−1 of catalyst load. Nonetheless, the modified TiO2/WO3 underperformed compared to the commercial TiO2 P25, due to its low specific surface and the particles sintering during the sol-gel synthesis

Degradation and Loss of Antibacterial Activity of Commercial Amoxicillin with TiO2/WO3-Assisted Solar Photocatalysis

In this study, a TiO2 catalyst, modified with tungsten oxide (WO3), was synthesized to reduce its bandgap energy (Eg) and to improve its photocatalytic performance. For the catalyst evaluation, the effect of the calcination temperature on the solar photocatalytic degradation was analyzed. The experimental runs were carried out in a CPC (compound parabolic collector) pilot-scale solar reactor, following a multilevel factorial experimental design, which allowed analysis of the effect of the calcination temperature, the initial concentration of amoxicillin, and the catalyst load on the amoxicillin removal. The most favorable calcination temperature for the catalyst performance, concerning the removal of amoxicillin, was 700 °C; because it was the only sample that showed the rutile phase in its crystalline structure. Regarding the loss of the antibiotic activity, the inhibition tests showed that the treated solution of amoxicillin exhibited lower antibacterial activity. The highest amoxicillin removal achieved in these experiments was 64.4% with 100 ppm of amoxicillin concentration, 700 °C of calcination temperature, and 0.1 g L−1 of catalyst load. Nonetheless, the modified TiO2/WO3 underperformed compared to the commercial TiO2 P25, due to its low specific surface and the particles sintering during the sol-gel synthesis

Feasibility of Ceria Nanocrystal Adsorbent for Amoxicillin Removal from Water

This study explored adsorptive property of ceria nanocrystal as an adsorbent for amoxicillin removal from water. Ceria nanocrystal was synthesized by employing precipitation method and characterized by using XRD and N2 adsorption-desorption analysis. The adsorption experiment was performed by managing amoxicillin in natural condition. Then, parameters in the adsorption experiment, such as adsorbent dosage, contact time, temperature and initial concentration of amoxicillin are varied. The XRD pattern illustrated that the average crystallite size of ceria nanocrystal formation was 13.08 nm. N2 adsorption-desorption analysis showed that ceria nanocrystal was mesoporous with specific surface area of ​​65.26 m2/g. The amoxicillin adsorption of ceria nanocrystal adsorbent was described by Langmuir isotherm model with maximum adsorption capacity of 37.17 mg/g. The adsorption kinetic of ceria nanocrystal corresponded to the pseudo-second order model. Removal efficiency of amoxicillin by ceria nanocrystal was approximately 80% within 60 minutes over temperature range 303-323K. Those parameter results are described that ceria nanocrystal adsorbent is feasible as a rapid amoxicillin removal from water.