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Solar photolysis versus TiO2-mediated solar photocatalysis: a kinetic study of the degradation of naproxen and diclofenac in various water matrices

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Abstract

Given that drugs and their degradation products are likely to occur as concoctions in wastewater, the degradation of a mixture of two nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), diclofenac (DCF) and naproxen (NPX), was investigated by solar photolysis and titanium dioxide (TiO2)-mediated solar photocatalysis using an immersion-well photoreactor. An equimolar ratio (1:1) of both NSAIDs in distilled water, drinking water, and river water was subjected to solar degradation. Solar photolysis of the DCF and NPX mixture was competitive particularly in drinking water and river water, as both drugs have the ability to undergo photolysis. However, the addition of TiO2 in the mixture significantly enhanced the degradation rate of both APIs compared to solar photolysis alone. Mineralization, as measured by chemical oxygen demand (COD), was incomplete under all conditions investigated. TiO2-mediated solar photocatalytic degradation of DCF and NPX mixtures produced 15 identifiable degradants corresponding to degradation of the individual NSAIDs, while two degradation products with much higher molecular weight than the parent NSAIDs were identified by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance-mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS). This study showed that the solar light intensity and the water matrix appear to be the main factors influencing the overall performance of the solar photolysis and TiO2-mediated solar photocatalysis for degradation of DCF and NPX mixtures.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the James Cook University for their financial support (FAIG award 2009 and GRS awards 2011 and 2012). D.K. also thanks the Malaysian Government for a University Doctorate Training Award. The authors also wish to thank Evonik industries for the donation of Titanium dioxide P25 Aeroxide and S. Boyle (AIMS Analytical Services) for DOC analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia

    Devagi Kanakaraju & Michael Oelgemöller

  2. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia

    Devagi Kanakaraju

  3. Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), Biomolecular Analysis Facility, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia

    Cherie A. Motti

  4. Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia

    Beverley D. Glass

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  1. Devagi Kanakaraju
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  2. Cherie A. Motti
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  3. Beverley D. Glass
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  4. Michael Oelgemöller
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Correspondence to Devagi Kanakaraju or Michael Oelgemöller.

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Responsible editor: Suresh Pillai

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Kanakaraju, D., Motti, C.A., Glass, B.D. et al. Solar photolysis versus TiO2-mediated solar photocatalysis: a kinetic study of the degradation of naproxen and diclofenac in various water matrices. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 17437–17448 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6906-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6906-8

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