The photocatalytic degradation of caffeine has been investigated in aqueous suspensions of titanium dioxide (TiO2) by monitoring process efficiency at varying TiO2 (29.3 – 170.7 mg l-1) and initial drug concentrations (0.76 - 9.24 mg l-1). The use of the response surface methodology (RSM) allowed to fit the optimal regions of the parameters leading to the degradation of the pollutant. Also, a single polynomial expression modelling the reaction was obtained. In parallel a set of bioassays (Daphnia magna, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Lactuca sativa) was performed to evaluate the process in terms of detoxification of caffeine oxidation by-products under chronic and acute tests. Results clearly demonstrate that caffeine is quickly degraded, but not mineralized as quickly, and that persistent toxic organic intermediates resist further oxidation.
TiO2 PHOTOCATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF CAFFEINE AND ECOTOXICOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF OXIDATION BY-PRODUCTS / Carotenuto, M.; Lofrano, G.; Siciliano, A.; Aliberti, Francesco; Guida, Marco. - In: GLOBAL NEST JOURNAL. - ISSN 1790-7632. - 16:3(2014), pp. 465-475.
TiO2 PHOTOCATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF CAFFEINE AND ECOTOXICOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF OXIDATION BY-PRODUCTS
LOFRANO G.;SICILIANO A.;ALIBERTI, FRANCESCO;GUIDA, MARCO
2014
Abstract
The photocatalytic degradation of caffeine has been investigated in aqueous suspensions of titanium dioxide (TiO2) by monitoring process efficiency at varying TiO2 (29.3 – 170.7 mg l-1) and initial drug concentrations (0.76 - 9.24 mg l-1). The use of the response surface methodology (RSM) allowed to fit the optimal regions of the parameters leading to the degradation of the pollutant. Also, a single polynomial expression modelling the reaction was obtained. In parallel a set of bioassays (Daphnia magna, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Lactuca sativa) was performed to evaluate the process in terms of detoxification of caffeine oxidation by-products under chronic and acute tests. Results clearly demonstrate that caffeine is quickly degraded, but not mineralized as quickly, and that persistent toxic organic intermediates resist further oxidation.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
