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Electrochemical degradation of tetracycline in artificial urine medium

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Abstract

The electrochemical degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TeC) was comparatively investigated in artificial urine and chloride-containing media using a one-compartment filter-press flow cell composed of a Ti/Ru0.3Ti0.7O2 dimensionally stable anode. The effect of the current density (10–40 mA cm−2) on the removal levels attained for TeC and total organic carbon (TOC) (in both media), as well as for urea and creatinine in artificial urine medium, was assessed. The TeC removal rate in the artificial urine medium was much lower than in chloride-containing medium, probably due to the higher consumption of the electrogenerated active chlorine species by the urea and creatinine in the artificial urine medium. Moreover, the obtained removal levels for the urea and creatinine were negligible at current densities lower than 30 mA cm−2. As TOC abatement was also very small, it is possible that TeC oxidation leads to intermediate compounds. Thus, if current densities less than 20 mA cm−2 are applied, TeC can be selectively removed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Brazilian research funding agencies, the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), and the Federal Agency for the Support and Improvement of Higher Education (CAPES) for the financial support. Saima Gul thanks the TWAS-CNPq Fellowship Programme for Postgraduate Research grant. De Nora do Brazil is also gratefully acknowledged for supplying the DSA® samples.

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Author notes

  1. José M. Aquino

    Present address: Department of Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos, P.O. Box 676, CEP 13565-905, São Carlos, SP, Brazil

Authors and Affiliations

  1. São Carlos Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, C.P. 780, São Carlos, SP, CEP 13560-970, Brazil

    Kenia N. Parra, Saima Gul, José M. Aquino, Douglas W. Miwa & Artur J. Motheo

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  1. Kenia N. Parra
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  2. Saima Gul
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Correspondence to Artur J. Motheo.

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Parra, K.N., Gul, S., Aquino, J.M. et al. Electrochemical degradation of tetracycline in artificial urine medium. J Solid State Electrochem 20, 1001–1009 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-015-2833-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-015-2833-8

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