Abstract
5-Fluorouracil and cyclophosphamide, the two most commonly used chemotherapeutic drugs, are widely detected in aquatic environments and cause cytotoxic and other adverse effects in ecosystems. In this work, UV/peracetic acid (UV/PAA) treatment was investigated for the first time for 5-fluorouracil and cyclophosphamide removal. The results showed that 5-fluorouracil and cyclophosphamide can be efficiently removed via UV/PAA within 20 min, with pseudo-first-order rate constants (kobs) of 0.197 and 0.135 min−1, respectively. The influences of PAA dosage, initial compound concentration, solution pH and common water constituents (Cl−, HCO3−, NO3− and dissolved organic matter) were systematically studied. OH was the predominant species involved in the degradation of the two pharmaceuticals, while direct UV photolysis and R–C were also involved in removing 5-fluorouracil. Two and five byproducts were detected in UV/PAA degradation of 5-fluorouracil and cyclophosphamide, respectively, and the possible degradation pathways were proposed. Although total organic carbon was not completely removed during the reaction, the Microtox® toxicity trend (an increase and further decrease) implied further detoxification of the byproducts. Additionally, UV/PAA treatment applied to real water samples (river water and effluent from a wastewater treatment plant) still exhibited good efficiency for removing the two compounds, revealing its applicability in water/wastewater treatment.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.