TITLE:
Photoelectrocatalytic Oxidation of Ethinylestradiol on a Ti/TiO2 Electrode: Degradation Efficiency and Search for By-Products
AUTHORS:
Karla Moreira Vieira, Fabiana Maria Monteiro Paschoal, Maria Valnice Boldrin Zanoni, Clésia Cristina Nascentes, Rodinei Augusti
KEYWORDS:
Photoelectrocatalytic Oxidation, Ethinylestradiol, Ti/TiO2 Thin-Film Electrode, Degradation Efficiency, Search for By-Products
JOURNAL NAME:
Green and Sustainable Chemistry,
Vol.4 No.3,
August
20,
2014
ABSTRACT: The
degradation of ethinylestradiol (EE, an orally bio-active estrogen) in an
aqueous-methanolic solution using a Ti/TiO2 thin-film electrode and
UV radiation (a photoelectrocatalytic system) was evaluated. Hence, HPLC/UV
analysis shows that EE (at 0.34 mmol) is totally consumed after 30 minutes of
exposure to the photoelectrocatalytic system in the presence of Na2SO4 (0.1 mol·L-1) and with an applied bias potential of +1.0 V versus
the Ag/AgCl reference electrode. Moreover, monitoring by direct infusion
electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and SPME-GC/ MS (solid phase
microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) reveals that
apparently no degradation products are formed under these conditions. Hence,
this study demonstrates that the photoelectrocatalytic system can be
efficiently used to promote the complete degradation (and likely mineralization)
of this hormone under these conditions.