Electrochemical degradation and mineralization of tetracycline on a boron-doped diamond electrode

Abstract

Electrochemical oxidation of tetracycline on a boron-doped diamond electrode in order to develop a method for purification of waste water from contamination by pharmaceutical agents was studied. It was found that under these conditions deep oxidation of tetracycline (TC) down to its full mineralization can take place. Using high resolution mass spectrometry, it was shown that in the first stage of the reaction the oxidation of TC proceeds with the formation of products with higher molecular mass than TC, but with further electrolysis TC transforms into compounds with lower molecular mass, and then into inorganic compounds.