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Photochemical Transformation of Pharmaceuticals in the Aquatic Environment: Reaction Pathways and Intermediates

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Xenobiotics in the Urban Water Cycle

Part of the book series: Environmental Pollution ((EPOL,volume 16))

Abstract

In recognition of the growing concern regarding the photochemical transformation of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment, the focus of this chapter is on current knowledge on the photochemical transformation of selected pharmaceutical compounds in aquatic systems in order to reveal the key areas and perspectives of this research field. Some of the most important groups of pharmaceuticals known to occur in the environment, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, antidepressants and estrogens, are discussed in this chapter. Processes considered include environmental photolysis and photochemical advanced oxidation processes (PAOPs) in homogeneous (UV/H2O2, Photo-Fenton and Photoelectron-Fenton) and heterogeneous (TiO2/UV) media. The phototransformation of pharmaceuticals proceeds usually through the formation of long-lived intermediate species. Thus, we have attempted to provide an overview of the nature of principal organic intermediates, the degradation pathways followed and the evolution of the mineralization in the photochemical process considered. Major degradation pathways usually include hydroxylation, isomerization, dehalogenation, dealkylation, cyclization, decarboxylation, dimerization and ring opening (for aromatic compounds), leading to corresponding derivatives as well as carboxylic acids.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Management, University of Ioannina, 30100, Agrinio, Greece

    Ioannis K. Konstantinou

  2. Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Dimitra A. Lambropoulou

  3. Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece

    Triantafyllos A. Albanis

Authors
  1. Ioannis K. Konstantinou
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  2. Dimitra A. Lambropoulou
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  3. Triantafyllos A. Albanis
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Correspondence to Dimitra A. Lambropoulou .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cyprus, Kallipoleos 75, Nicosia, 1678, Cyprus

    Despo Fatta-Kassinos

  2. Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Aalborg University, Sohngaardsholmsvej 57, Aalborg, 9000, Denmark

    Kai Bester

  3. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University Medical Center Freiburg, Bresisacher Straße 115b, Freiburg, D 79106, Germany

    Klaus Kümmerer

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Konstantinou, I.K., Lambropoulou, D.A., Albanis, T.A. (2010). Photochemical Transformation of Pharmaceuticals in the Aquatic Environment: Reaction Pathways and Intermediates. In: Fatta-Kassinos, D., Bester, K., Kümmerer, K. (eds) Xenobiotics in the Urban Water Cycle. Environmental Pollution, vol 16. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3509-7_10

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