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Photodegradation of Mefenamic Acid in Aqueous Media: Kinetics, Toxicity and Photolysis Products

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Abstract

The present study investigated the photolytic behavior and photodegradation products of mefenamic acid (MEF) under ultraviolet-C irradiation. The results demonstrated that the photodegradation of MEF followed pseudo-first-order kinetics and the direct photolysis quantum yield of mefenamic acid was observed to be 2.63 ± 0.28 × 10−3. Photodegradation of MEF included degradation by direct photolysis and by self-sensitization that the contribution rates of self-sensitized photodegradation were 5.70, 11.25 and 18.96 % for ·OH, 1O2 and \({\text{O}}_{2}^{ \cdot - }\), respectively. Primary transformation products of MEF were identified using ultra performance liquid chromatography and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (UPLC-Q-TOF–MS). The identified transformation products suggested three possible pathways of MEF photodegradation: dehydrogenation, hydroxylation, and ketonized reactions. Toxicity of phototransformation products were evaluated using the Microtox test, which revealed that photodegradation likely provides a critical pathway for MEF toxicity reduction in drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21377031), the Scientific and Technical Projects of Guangdong Province (No. 2013B020800009).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, No. 100 Waihuan Xi Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Panyu District, Guangzhou, 510006, People’s Republic of China

    Ping Chen, Feng Liang Wang, Kun Yao, Jing Shuai Ma, Fu Hua Li, Wen Ying Lv & Guo Guang Liu

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  1. Ping Chen
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  2. Feng Liang Wang
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  3. Kun Yao
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  4. Jing Shuai Ma
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Correspondence to Guo Guang Liu.

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Chen, P., Wang, F.L., Yao, K. et al. Photodegradation of Mefenamic Acid in Aqueous Media: Kinetics, Toxicity and Photolysis Products. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 96, 203–209 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-015-1680-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-015-1680-8

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