ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Degradation of azithromycin using Ti/RuO₂ anode as catalyst followed by DPV, HPLC–UV and MS analysis

Kristina D. Radosavljević, Jelena D. Lović, Dušan Ž. Mijin, Slobodan D. Petrović, Milka B. Jadranin, Aleksandar R. Mladenović, and Milka L. Avramov Ivić

Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

E-mail: milka@tmf.bg.ac.rs

Abstract: The electrodegradation of azithromycin was studied by its indirect oxidation using dimensionally stable Ti/RuO₂ anode as catalyst in the electrolyte containing methanol, 0.05 M NaHCO₃, sodium chloride and deionized water. The optimal conditions for galvanostatic electrodegradation for the azithromycin concentration of 0.472 mg cm⁻³ were found to be NaCl concentration of 7 mg cm⁻³ and the applied current of 300 mA. The differential pulse voltammetry using glassy carbon electrode was performed for the first time in the above-mentioned content of electrolyte for the nine concentration of azithromycin (0.075–0.675 mg cm⁻³) giving the limits of azithromycin detection and of quantification as: LOD 0.044 mg cm⁻³ and LOQ 0.145 mg cm⁻³. The calibration curve was constructed enabling the electrolyte analysis during its electrodegradation process. The electrolyte was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The electrooxidation products were identified and after 180 min there was no azithromycin in the electrolyte while TOC analysis showed that 79% of azithromycin was mineralized. The proposed degradation scheme is presented.

Keywords: Azithromycin, Electrocatalytic degradation, Ti/RuO₂, ToF LC–MS, TOC analysis

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-016-0115-2

Chemical Papers 71 (7) 1217–1224 (2017)