Application of photo induced processes for advanced degradation of amides class toxic micro pollutants from water

Abstract

During the first stage of the project, performed in 2016, kinetic aspects of cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide photocatalytic degradation were studied in order to set up optimum operational parameters (pH, photocatalyst dose, irradiation time). Performed experiments proved that photocatalytic degradation process obeys Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic, its appliance in optimum conditions leading to cyclic amides removal up to 1 µg/L. During the second phase, performed in 2017, the influence of photocatalyst dopant type was studied (optimum photocatalyst being 5%Fe wt.– TiO2), degradation intermediates were identified for both cyclophosphamide (6 intermediates) and ifosfamide (7 intermediates), possible degradation pathways were proposed and the technology for photocatalytic advanced removal of amides from water was elaborated for real water matrices (with the photocatalyst reuse and/or possibility to be reconditioned). Proposed technological flow allows cyclic amides removal up to concentration levels lower than 1 µg/L.