Degradation of Antibiotic Vancomycin by UV Photolysis and Pulsed Corona Discharge Combined with Extrinsic Oxidants

Antibiotics are the most frequently detected pharmaceuticals in the environment creating conditions for the development of resistant genes in bacteria. Degradation and mineralization of glycopeptide antibiotic vancomycin (VMN) were examined by UV photolysis, pulsed corona discharge (PCD), and their combinations with extrinsic oxidants, hydrogen peroxide (HP), peroxydisulfate (PDS), and peroxymonosulfate (PMS). Both combinations were effective in VMN degradation and faster at pH 11 than in acidic or neutral media. Combined with the UV photolysis, HP showed a higher oxidation rate than other oxidants, whereas PMS and PDS proved to be more efficient in combinations with PCD. In contrast to low-to-moderate mineralization of VMN in the UV/oxidant combinations, PCD and PCD/oxidant combinations appeared to be more effective, reaching up to 90% of TOC removal in acidic/neutral solutions. Application of extrinsic oxidants resulted in an energy efficiency of VMN 90% oxidation improved from 36 to 61 g kW(-1) h(-1) in HP-assisted photolysis, and from 195 to 250 g kW(-1) h(-1) in PCD with additions of HP and PDS, thus showing the promising character of the combined treatment.