Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Aqueous photodegradation of antibiotic florfenicol: kinetics and degradation pathway studies

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The occurrence of antibacterial agents in natural environment was of scientific concern in recent years. As endocrine disrupting chemicals, they had potential risk on ecology system and human beings. In the present study, the photodegradation kinetics and pathways of florfenicol were investigated under solar and xenon lamp irradiation in aquatic systems. Direct photolysis half-lives of florfenicol were determined as 187.29 h under solar irradiation and 22.43 h under xenon lamp irradiation, respectively. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydroxyl radical (·OH) and singlet oxygen (1O2) were found to play an important role in indirect photolysis process. The presence of nitrate and dissolved organic matters (DOMs) could affect photolysis of florfenicol in solutions through light screening effect, quenching effect, and photoinduced oxidization process. Photoproducts of florfenicol in DOMs solutions were identified by solid phase extraction-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPE-LC-MS) analysis techniques, and degradation pathways were proposed, including photoinduced hydrolysis, oxidation by 1O2 and ·OH, dechlorination, and cleavage of the side chain.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anne L, Boreen BL, Edhlund JB, Cotner KM (2008) Indirect photodegradation of dissolved free amino acids: the contribution of singlet oxygen and the differential reactivity of DOM from various sources. Environ Sci Technol 42:5492–5498

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boreen AL, Arnold WA, McNeill K (2003) Photodegradation of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment: a review. Aquat Sci 65:320–341

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Botelho RG, Christofoletti CA, Correia JE, Ansoar Y, Olinda RA, Tornisielo VL (2015) Genotoxic responses of juvenile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to florfenicol and oxytetracycline. Chemosphere 132:206–212

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bu QW, Wang B, Huang J, Deng SB, Yu G (2013) Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the aquatic environment in China: a review. J Hazard Mater 262:189–211

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Hu C, Hu X, Qu J (2009) Indirect photodegradation of amine drugs in aqueous solution under simulated sunlight. Environ Sci Technol 43:2760–2765

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen L, Shen CF, Zhou MM, Tang XJ, Chen YX (2013a) Accelerated photo-transformation of 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB 153) in water by dissolved organic matter. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20:1842–1848

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Zhang K, Zuo YG (2013b) Direct and indirect photodegradation of estriol in the presence of humic acid, nitrate and iron complexes in water solutions. Sci Total Environ 463–464:802–809

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Csay T, Rácz G, Takács E, Wojnárovits L (2012) Radiation induced degradation of pharmaceutical residues in water: chloramphenicol. Radiat Phys Chem 81:1489–1494

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gao Y, Gao N, Deng Y, Yin D, Zhang Y (2015) Degradation of florfenicol in water by UV/Na2S2O8 process. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22:8693–8701

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ge L, Chen J, Qiao X, Lin J, Cai X (2009) Light-source-dependent effects of main water constituents on photodegradation of phenicol antibiotics: mechanism and kinetics. Environ Sci Technol 43:3101–3107

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guerard JJ, Miller PL, Trouts TD, Chin YP (2009) The role of fulvic acid composition in the photosensitized degradation of aquatic contaminants. Aquat Sci 71:160–169

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Halle AT, Claire R (2006) Simulated solar light irradiation of mesotrione in natural waters. Environ Sci Technol 40:3842–3847

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes JM, Eichman J, Katz T, Gilewicz R (2003) Stability of florfenicol in drinking water. J AOAC Int 86:22–29

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs LE, Fimmen RL, Chin YP, Mash HE, Weavers LK (2011) Fulvic acid mediated photolysis of ibuprofen in water. Water Res 45:4449–4458

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ji YF, Zhou L, Zhang Y, Ferronato C, Brigante M, Mailhot G, Yang X, Chovelon JM (2013) Photochemical degradation of sunscreen agent 2-phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid in different water matrices. Water Res 47:5865–5875

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jiao S, Zheng S, Yin D, Wang L, Chen L (2008) Aqueous photolysis of tetracycline and toxicity of photolytic products to luminescent bacteria. Chemosphere 73:377–382

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jing L, Hu X, Yin D, Zhang H, Yu Z (2011) Occurrence, distribution and seasonal variation of antibiotics in the Huangpu River, Shanghai, China. Chemosphere 82:822–828

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lam MW, Tantuco K, Mabury SA (2003) Photofate: a new approach in accounting for the contribution of indirect photolysis of pesticides and pharmaceuticals in surface water. Environ Sci Technol 37:899–907

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Latch DE, McNeill K (2006) Microheterogeneity of singlet oxygen distributions in irradiated humic acid solutions. Science 311:1743–1747

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Latch DE, Stender BL, Packer JL, Arnold WA, McNeill K (2003) Photochemical fate of pharmaceuticals in the environment: cimetidine and ranitidine. Environ Sci Technol 37:3342–3350

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li K, Zhang P, Lk G, Ren HL, Yu CY, Chen XY, Zhao YF (2014) Concentration-dependent photodegradation kinetics and hydroxyl-radical oxidation of phenicol antibiotics. Chemosphere 111:278–282

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu N, Sijak S, Zheng M, Tang L, Xu G, Wu M (2015) Aquatic photolysis of florfenicol and thiamphenicol under direct UV irradiation, UV/H2O2 and UV/Fe(II) processes. Chem Eng J 260:826–834

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pouliquen H, Delépée R, Larhantec-Verdier M, Morvan ML, Bris HL (2007) Comparative hydrolysis and photolysis of four antibacterial agents (oxytetracycline oxolinic acid, flumequine and florfenicol) in deionized water, freshwater and seawater under abiotic conditions. Aquaculture 262:23–28

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Richard C, Vialaton D, Aguer JP, Andreux F (1997) Transformation of monuron photosensitized by soli extracted humic substances: energy or hydrogen transfer mechanism? J Photochem Photobio A Chem 111:265–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riet JMV, Potter RA, Christie-Fougere M, Burns BG (2003) Simultaneous determination of residues of chloramphenicol, thiamphenicol, florfenicol, and florfenicol amine in farmed aquatic species by liquid, chromatography/mass spectrometry. J AOAC Int 86:510–514

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson PF, Liu QT, Riddle AM, Murray-Smith R (2007) Modeling the impact of direct phototransformation on predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) of propranolol hydrochloride in UK and US rivers. Chemosphere 66:757–766

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sørensen LK, Elbæk TH (2004) Simultaneous determination of trimethoprim, sulfadiazine, florfenicol and oxolinic acid in surface water by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Chromatographia 60:287–291

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu H, Cooper WJ, Jung J, Song W (2011) Photosensitized degradation of amoxicillin in natural organic matter isolate solutions. Water Res 45:632–638

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan F, Hu C, Hu XX, Wei DB, Chen Y, Qu JH (2011) Photodegradation and toxicity changes of antibiotics in UV and UV/H2O2 process. J Hazard Mater 185:1256–1263

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng C, Ji Y, Zhou L, Zhang Y, Yang X (2012) The role of dissolved organic matters in the aquatic photodegradation of atenolol. J Hazard Mater 239–240:340–347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zepp RG, Schlotzhauer PF, Sink RM (1985) Photosensitized transformations involving electronic energy transfer in natural waters: role of humic substances. Environ Sci Technol 19:74–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zepp RG, Holgne J, Bader H (1987) Nitrate-induced photooxidation of trace organic chemicals in water. Environ Sci Technol 21:443–450

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou L, Ji Y, Zeng C, Zhang Y, Wang Z, Yang X (2013) Aquatic photodegradation of sunscreen agent paminobenzoic acid in the presence of dissolved organic matter. Water Res 47:153–162

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zou S, Xu W, Zhang R, Tang J, Chen Y, Zhang G (2011) Occurrence and distribution of antibiotics in coastal water of the Bohai Bay, China: impacts of river discharge and aquaculture activities. Environ Pollut 159:2913–2920

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zuo Y (2014) High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC): principles, procedures and practices. Nova Science Publishers, Inc., New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuo Y, Jones R (1997) Photochemistry of natural dissolved organic matter in lake and wetland waters: production of carbon monoxide. Water Res 31:850–858

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zuo Y, Wang C, Van T (2006a) Simultaneous determination of nitrite and nitrate in dew, rain, snow and lake water samples by ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography. Talanta 70:281–285

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zuo Y, Zhang K, Deng Y (2006b) Occurrence and photochemical degradation of 17α-ethinylestradiol in Acushnet River Estuary. Chemosphere 63:1583–1590

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zuo Y, Zhang K, Zhou S (2013) Determination of estrogenic steroids and microbial and photochemical degradation of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) in lake surface water, a case study. Environ Sci Process Impacts 15:1529–1535

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (20977045 and 21177056) and Central Public Welfare Scientific Research Institute of basic scientific research business special (2015).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Management and Pollution Control, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection, Nanjing, 210042, People’s Republic of China

    Ya Zhang, Guoqing Wang & Yanhong Feng

  2. State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, People’s Republic of China

    Ya Zhang, Jianhua Li, Zunyao Wang & Xi Yang

  3. Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5256, Institut de recherches sur la catalyse et l’environnement de Lyon (IRCELYON), 2 Avenue Albert Einstein, F-69626, Villeurbanne, France

    Lei Zhou

Authors
  1. Ya Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jianhua Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lei Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Guoqing Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yanhong Feng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Zunyao Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Xi Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xi Yang.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Roland Kallenborn

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(DOCX 184 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, Y., Li, J., Zhou, L. et al. Aqueous photodegradation of antibiotic florfenicol: kinetics and degradation pathway studies. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 6982–6989 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5897-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5897-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation