Metronidazole Degradation by UV and UV/H2O2 Advanced Oxidation Processes: Kinetics, Mechanisms, and Effects of Natural Water Matrices

Abstract

Advanced oxidation technology represented by hydroxyl radicals has great potential to remove residual antibiotics. In this study, we systematically compared the metronidazole (MTZ) degradation behavior and mechanism in the UV and UV/H2O2 systems at pH 3.00 condition. The results show that the initial reaction rates were 0.147 and 1.47 µM min−1 in the UV and UV/H2O2 systems, respectively. The main reason for the slow direct photolysis of MTZ is the relatively low molar absorption coefficient (2645.44 M−1 cm−1) and quantum yield (5.9 × 10−3 mol Einstein−1). Then, we measured kMTZ,OH • as 2.79 (±0.12) × 109 M−1 s−1 by competitive kinetics, and calculated kMTZ,OH • and [OH •]SS as 2.43 (±0.11) × 109 M−1 s−1 and 2.36 × 10−13 M by establishing a kinetic model based on the steady-state hypothesis in our UV/H2O2 system. The contribution of direct photolysis and •OH to the MTZ degradation was 9.9% and 90.1%. •OH plays a major role in the MTZ degradation, and •OH was the main active material in the UV/H2O2 system. This result was also confirmed by MTZ degradation and radicals’ identification experiments. MTZ degradation increases with H2O2 dosage, but excessive H2O2 had the opposite effect. A complex matrix has influence on MTZ degradation. Organic matter could inhibit the degradation of MTZ, and the quenching of the radical was the main reason. NO3− promoted the MTZ degradation, while SO42− and Cl− had no effect. These results are of fundamental and practical importance in understanding the MTZ degradation, and to help select preferred processes for the optimal removal of antibiotics in natural water bodies, such as rivers, lakes, and groundwater