Electrochemical abatement of cefazolin: Towards a viable treatment for antibiotic-containing urine. (20th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sordello, Fabrizio; Fabbri, Debora; Rapa, Lorenzo; Minero, Claudio; Minella, Marco; Vione, Davide
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 289(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-03-20
• Subjects: Antibiotic resistance -- Source-separated urine -- Cefazolin removal -- Electrochemical abatement -- Advanced oxidation processes -- Treatment costs; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125722
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: The release in the environment of antibiotics develop microbial resistance. In this work we investigated the feasibility of the electrochemical degradation in synthetic urine of cefazolin (CFZ), an antibiotic used for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant infections, which could be carried out in hospital wards on source-separated urine. CFZ is primarily excreted in urine without modifications. The removal of CFZ from human wastes would contribute to slow down the diffusion of CFZ-resistant bacterial strains more efficiently, compared to the treatment of much larger volumes of wastewater. CFZ can be electrochemically degraded using relatively low current density (≥0.5 mA cm −2 ) and without important generation of toxic by-products such as chlorate (<100 μg L −1 ). Oxidation of the S atoms of CFZ constitutes its main electrodegradation pathway, while the electrochemical generation of H2 O2 accounts for most of the bacterial toxicity observed in electrodegraded mixtures. The treatment costs are not an issue because of the relatively low electricity consumption required for CFZ degradation (EEO at 0.5 mA cm −2 current density was always < 1 kWh m −3 ), while the most challenging endeavours could be the manufacturing of a sufficiently compact apparatus and possibly its management in hospital wards. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Antibiotics released in water bodies through urine develop antimicrobial resistance. Electrodegradation is able to remove cefazoline in urine using low current density. The process is efficient with very limited production of chlorate (<100 μg L −1 ). Energy consumption and the associated treatment costs are low (EEO < 1 kWh m −3 ). The transformation intermediates show low bacterial toxicity.