Comparison of transformation products of tetracycline using ozonation and photo-Fenton reaction and evaluating their toxicities

Tetracycline antibiotics (TCs) have received significant interest due to broad-spectrum antibiotics. TCs are detected worldwide in surface water, ground waters, and even drinking water sources because of excreting through urine and feces. The presence of TCs represents a threat to humans and ecosystems by developing drug-resistant bacteria and the toxicity of the antibiotics Thus, it is very important to remove TCs from contaminated water before discharging it into the environment. However, it is difficult to remove TCs using conventional water treatment processes owing to their stable structure. Photo-Fenton process is an attractive method in advanced oxidation processes to remove TCs in as H2O2 and iron is an environmentally friendly compounds. Despite these advantages, many studies have been performed on removing TCs using ozonation to date, while a few of studies were conducted by photo-Fenton. Therefore, the aims of the proposed research are to compare the degradation efficiencies of TCs using the photo-Fenton and ozonation, to identify TCs transformation products in the photo-Fenton and ozonation, and to assess toxicities of transformation products of TCs by measuring bioluminescence of V. fischeri and by predicting toxicity using modeling.

Faculty Supervisor:

Viviane Yargeau

Student:

Partner:

Seoul National University

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education

University:

McGill University

Program: