Skip to main content
Log in

Aspirin and paracetamol removal using a commercial micro-sized TiO2 catalyst in deionized and tap water

  • Environmental Photocatalysis and Photochemistry for a Sustainable World: A Big Challenge
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Micro-sized TiO2 catalyst was employed to degrade pharmaceutical compounds, i.e. aspirin and paracetamol, two of the most widely used drugs, purchasable without prescription. Their active agents, acetylsalicylic acid and acetaminophen, are characterized by different substituent groups, linked to the aromatic ring, which affect both the photodegradation and mineralization processes. The experimental conditions highlight the relationship between the nature of the pristine molecules, their degradation mechanisms, their mutual interference and the water’s role. The research started from model systems with a single pollutant to the mixture of them and finally by moving from deionized water to tap water.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akpan UG, Hameed BH (2009) Parameters affecting the photocatalytic degradation of dyes using TiO2-based photocatalysts: a review. J Hazard Mater 170:520–529

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Amalric L, Guillarde C, Blanc-Brude E, Pichat P (1996) Correlation between the photocatalytic degradability over TiO2 in water of meta and para substituted methoxybenzenes and their electron density, idrophobicity and polarizability properties. Water Res 30(5):1137–1143

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bagheri S, Muhd Julkapli N, Abd Hamid SB (2014) Titanium dioxide as a catalyst support in heterogeneous catalysis. Sci World J 727496/1–727496/22

  • Bedner M, MacCrehan WA (2006) Transformation of acetaminophen by chlorination produces the toxicants 1,4-benzoquinone and n-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine. Environ Sci Technol 40:516–522

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beydoun D, Amal R, Low G, McEvoy S (1999) Role of nanoparticles in photocatalysis. J Nanopart Res 1:439–458

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bianchi CL, Colombo E, Gatto S, Stucchi M, Cerrato G, Morandi S, Capucci V (2014) Photocatalytic degradation of dyes in water with micro-sized TiO2 as powder or coated on porcelain-grès tiles. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem 280:27–31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bianchi CL, Pirola C, Galli F, Cerrato G, Morandi S, Capucci V (2015a) Pigmentary TiO2: a challenge for its use as photocatalyst in NOx air purification. Chem Eng J 261:76–82

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bianchi CL, Pirola C, Galli F, Stucchi M, Morandi S, Cerrato G, Capucci V (2015b) Nano and micro-TiO2 for the photodegradation of ethanol: experimental data and kinetic modelling. RSC Adv 5(66):53419–53425

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boffito DC, Crocellà V, Pirola C, Neppolian B, Cerrato G, Ashokkuram M, Bianchi CL (2013) Ultrasonic enhancement of the acidity, surface area and free fatty acids esterification catalytic activity of sulphated ZrO2–TiO2 systems. Journal of Catalyst 297:17–26

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brar SK, Verma M, Tyagi RD, Surampalli RY (2010) Engineered nanoparticles in wastewater and wastewater sludge—evidence and impacts. Waste Manag 30:504–520

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen T, Yan J, Li Y (2014) Genotoxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles. J Food Drug Anal 22(1):95–104

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • CORDIS (Community Research and Development Information Service) (2015) The 7th framework programme funded European research and technological development from 2007 until 2013. CORDIS Archive. http://www.cordis.europe.eu/

  • European Parliament and Council (2015) Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy: 2000/60/EC, 2008/105/EC, 2009/90/EC, 2013/39/EU, 2015/1787/EU. Official Journal of European Union. http://www.eur-lex.europa.eu/.

  • Gadipelly C, Perez-Gonzalez A, Yadav GD, Ortiz I, Ibanez R, Rathod VK, Marathe KV (2014) Pharmaceutical industry wastewater: review of the technologies for water treatment and reuse. Ind Eng Chem Res 53:11571–11592

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ghajar S, Sohrabi MR (2012) Taguchi experimental design used for nano photo catalytic degradation of the pharmaceutical agent aspirin. J Chem Pharm Res 4(1):814–821

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He H, Chen P (2012) Recent advances in property enhancement of nano TiO2 in photodegradation of organic pollutants. Chem Eng Commun 199(12):1543–1574

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Imani R, Pazoki M, Iglič A (2014) TiO2 nanostructured materials: synthesis and applications. Handbook of functional. Nanomaterials 4:309–335

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kanakaraju D, Glass BD, Oelgemoller M (2014) Titanium dioxide photocatalysis for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment. Environ Chem Lett 12(1):27–47

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karthika M, Senthilkumar K, Kanakaraju R (2011) Hydrogen bond interactions in hydrated acetylsalicylic acid. Computational and Theoretical Chemistry 966:167–179

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Konstantinou KI, Albanis TA (2004) TiO2-assisted photocatalytic degradation of azo dyes in aqueous solution: kinetic and mechanistic investigations. A review. Appl Catal B Environ 49:1–14

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ksibi M, Zemzemia A, Boukchina R (2003) Photocatalytic degradability of substituted phenols over UV irradiated TiO2. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem 159:61–70

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Márquez G, Rodríguez EM, Maldonado MI, Álvarez PM (2014) Integration of ozone and solar TiO2-photocatalytic oxidation for the degradation of selected pharmaceutical compounds in water and wastewater. Sep Purif Technol 136:18–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Massawe E (2013) Nanomaterials for environmental remediation: investigating the role of nanoinformatics in support of environmental, health and safety oversight of nanotechnologies at the local level. J Environ Health 76(1):8–17

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mazille F, Schoettl T, Klamerth N, Malato S, Pulgarin C (2010) Field solar degradation of pesticides and emerging water contaminants mediated by polymer films containing titanium and iron oxide with synergistic heterogeneous photocatalytic activity at neutral pH. Water Res 44:3029–3038

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MM SpA –Metropolitanamilanese (2015) Water analysis of City of Milan. http://www.comune.milano.it/.

  • Neppolian B, Sakthivel S, Arabindoo B, Palanichamy M, Murugesan V (2001) Kinetics of photocatalytic degradation of reactive yellow 17 dye in aqueous solution using UV irradiation. . Journal of environmental science and health, part a: toxic/hazardous substances and Environ Eng 26(2):203–213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neppolian B, Jie HS, Ahn JP, Park JK, Anpo M (2004) The preparation of TiO2 nanoparticle photocatalysts by a flame method and their photocatalytic reactivity for the degradation of 2-propanol. Chem Lett 33(12):1562–1563

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Neppolian B, Jung H, Choi H (2007) Photocatalytic degradation of 4-Chlorophenol using TiO2 and Pt-TiO2 nanoparticles prepared by sol-gel method. Journal of Advanced Oxidation Technologies 10(2):369–374

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oatley-Radcliffe DL, Williams MP (2015) Foreward for special issue: hybrid systems. Desalination 363:1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Orellana-García F, Álvarez MA, López-Ramón MV, Rivera-Utrilla J, Sánchez-Polo M (2015) Effect of HO, SO4 −− and CO3 −−/HCO3 −− radicals on the photodegradation of the herbicide amitrole by UV radiation in aqueous solution. Chem Eng J 267:182–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pelaeza M, Nolanb NT, Pillai SC, Seeryc MK, Falarasd P, Kontosd AG, Dunlope PSM, Hamiltone JWJ, Byrnee JA, O’Sheaf K, Entezarig MH, Dionysioua DD (2012) A review on the visible light active titanium dioxide photocatalysts for environmental applications. Appl Catal B Environ 125:331–349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Radjenovic’ J, Petrovic’ M, Barcelo D (2009) Complementary mass spectrometry and bioassays for evaluating pharmaceutical-transformation products in treatment of drinking water and wastewater. Trends Anal Chem 28(5):562–580

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rincón AG, Pulgarin C, Adler N, Peringer P (2001) Interaction between E. coli inactivation and DBP-precursors - dihydroxybenzene isomers- in the photocatalytic process of drinking-water disinfection with TiO2. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem 139:233–241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rioja N, Zorita S, Penas FJ (2016) Effect of water matrix on photocatalytic degradation and general kinetic modeling. Appl Catal B Environ 180:330–335

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roccaro P, Sgroi M, Vagliasindi FGA (2013) Removal of xenobiotic compounds from wastewater for environment protection: treatment processes and costs. Chem Eng Trans 32:505–510

    Google Scholar 

  • Roy P, Berger S, Schmuki P (2011) TiO2 nanotubes: synthesis and applications. Angew Chem Int Ed 50:2904–2939

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sakthivel S, Neppolian B, Palanlchamy M, Arabindoo B, Murugesan V (2001) Photocatalytic degradation of leather dye over ZnO catalyst supported on alumina and glass surfaces. Water Sci Technol 44(5):211–218

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar S, Das R, Choi R, Bhattacharjee C (2014) Involvement of process parameters and various modes of application of TiO2 nanoparticles in heterogeneous photocatalysis of pharmaceutical wastes—a short review. RSC Adv 4:57250–57266

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Song B, Liu J, Feng X, Wei L, Shao L (2015) A review on potential neurotoxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Nanoscale Res Lett 10(1):1–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sornalingama K, McDonagh A, Zhou JL (2016) Photodegradation of estrogenic endocrine disrupting steroidal hormones in aqueous systems: progress and future challenges. Sci Total Environ 550:209–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stucchi M, Bianchi CL, Pirola C, Vitali S, Cerrato G, Morandi S, Argirusis C, Sourkouni G, Sakkas PM, Capucci V (2015) Surface decoration of commercial micro-sized TiO2 by means of high energy ultrasound: a way to enhance its photocatalytic activity under visible light. Appl Catal B Environ 178:124–132

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stucchi M, Bianchi CL, Pirola C, Cerrato G, Morandi S, Argirusis C, Sourkouni G, Naldoni A, Capucci V (2016) Copper NPs decorated titania: a novel synthesis by high energy US with a study of the photocatalytic activity under visible light. Ultrason Sonochem 31:295–301

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tong AYC, Braund R, Warren DS, Peake BM (2012) TiO2-assisted photodegradation of pharmaceuticals - a review. Central European Journal of Chemistry 10(4):989–1027

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yanga L, Yua LE, Rayb MB (2008) Degradation of paracetamol in aqueous solutions by TiO2 photocatalysis. Water Res 42:3480–3488

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang X, Wu F, XW W, Chen P, Deng N (2008) Photodegradation of acetaminophen in TiO2 suspended solution. J Hazard Mater 157:300–307

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Benedetta Sacchi.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bianchi, C.L., Sacchi, B., Pirola, C. et al. Aspirin and paracetamol removal using a commercial micro-sized TiO2 catalyst in deionized and tap water. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 12646–12654 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7781-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7781-z

Keywords

Navigation