In this work, the removal of antibiotic penicillin G by electrolysis
with boron doped diamond (BDD) and mixed metal oxide
(MMO) anodes in urine media is evaluated. First, electrolysis in
different water matrices (sulfate, chloride and urine) were
carried out with diamond anodes to shed light on the
contribution of mediated mechanisms. Results showed that
penicillin G was completely removed by electrolysis for electric
charges below 5 Ahdm 3
, regardless of the water matrix and
the current density applied (10-100 mAcm 2
). Then, the
influence of the anode material was evaluated for the
degradation of penicillin G in urine media. A complete removal
of the antibiotic was attained, regardless of the tested anode
material, although the BDD anode was found to be more
efficient than MMO. Results also showed that, at the current
charges in which the antibiotic is depleted, the removal of other
organics was much lower and the formation of chlorates was
negligible, especially operating at low current densities.
Because of this selective oxidation of the pharmaceutical
compound, electrolysis can be proposed to be used as a pretreatment technology for later and cheaper biological treatment
