Vanadium trioxide mediated peroxymonosulfate for fast metronidazole oxidation: Stepwise oxidation of vanadium for donating electrons

From wastewater to clean water: Recent advances on the removal of metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, and sulfamethoxazole antibiotics from water through adsorption and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs)

Antibiotics released into water sources pose significant risks to both human health and the environment. This comprehensive review meticulously examines the ecotoxicological impacts of three prevalent antibiotics-ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, and sulfamethoxazole-on the ecosystems. Within this framework, our primary focus revolves around the key remediation technologies: adsorption and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). In this context, an array of adsorbents is explored, spanning diverse classes such as biomass-derived biosorbents, graphene-based adsorbents, MXene-based adsorbents, silica gels, carbon nanotubes, carbon-based adsorbents, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), carbon nanofibers, biochar, metal oxides, and nanocomposites. On the flip side, the review meticulously examines the main AOPs widely employed in water treatment. This includes a thorough analysis of ozonation (O3), the photo-Fenton process, UV/hydrogen peroxide (UV/H2O2), TiO2 photocatalysis, ozone/UV (O3/UV), radiation-induced AOPs, and sonolysis. Furthermore, the review provides in-depth insights into equilibrium isotherm and kinetic models as well as prospects and challenges inherent in these cutting-edge processes. By doing so, this review aims to empower readers with a profound understanding, enabling them to determine research gaps and pioneer innovative treatment methodologies for water contaminated with antibiotics.

Understanding the pivotal role of ubiquitous Yellow River suspend sediment in efficiently degrading metronidazole pollutants in water environments

Sulfite-based advanced oxidation technology has received considerable attention for its application in organic pollutants elimination. However, the potential of natural sediments as effective catalysts for sulfite activation has been overlooked. This study investigates a novel process utilizing suspended sediment/sulfite (SS/S(IV)) for degradation of metronidazole (MNZ). Our results demonstrate that MNZ degradation efficiency can reach to 93.1 % within 90 min with 12.0 g SS and 2.0 mM sulfite. The influencing environmental factors, including initial pH, SS dosage, S(IV) concentration, temperature, and co-existing substances were systematically investigated. Quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance analyses results indicate that SO3•- is the primary active substance responsible for MNZ degradation, with involvement of SO4•-, SO5•-, and •OH. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Mössbauer spectra reveal that Fe (III)-silicates play a crucial role in activating S(IV). Furthermore, analysis of degradation intermediates and pathways of MNZ is conducted using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC -MS). The toxicity of MNZ and its intermediates were also systematically evaluated by the T.E.ST. program and wheat seeds germination test. This study offers valuable insight into the activation of sulfite by natural sediments and could contribute to the development of SS-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for the in-situ remediation of antibiotics-contaminated water environments.

Sulfite activation by Jahn-Teller-driven oxygen vacancies Cu-Mn composite oxide for chlortetracycline degradation

Copper-manganese composite metal oxides (CuMnOy) were prepared by hydrolysis-driven oxidation-reduction method and used to activate sulfite to degrade chlortetracycline hydrochloride (CTC) for the first time. The Jahn-Teller ions Mn3+ and Cu2+ exist in CuMnOy, which form a solid electric charge transport redox system and ensure the continuous generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Through the systematic study of the experimental parameters such as sulfite concentration, catalyst metal molar ratio, catalyst amounts and initial pH, the optimal degradation rate of CTC could reach 91.74% within 10 min and 94.46% after 30 min. The major reactive radicals were determined by radical quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) trapping techniques, and it was confirmed that SO4•- and •O2- played a nonnegligible role in the process of degrading CTC. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that higher Fukui indices (f- and f0) of CTC sites are more vulnerable to free radical attack. CuMnOy has low CTC degradation intermediate toxicity, high catalytic performance, good anti-interference ability, reusability and stability, and possesses decent application potential in the actual water treatment field.