Electrochemical degradation of tetracycline in artificial urine medium

The electrochemical degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TeC) was comparatively investigated in artificial urine and chloride-containing media using a one-compartment filter-press flow cell composed of a Ti/Ru0.3Ti0.7O2 dimensionally stable anode. The effect of the current density (10–40 mA cm−2) on the removal levels attained for TeC and total organic carbon (TOC) (in both media), as well as for urea and creatinine in artificial urine medium, was assessed. The TeC removal rate in the artificial urine medium was much lower than in chloride-containing medium, probably due to the higher consumption of the electrogenerated active chlorine species by the urea and creatinine in the artificial urine medium. Moreover, the obtained removal levels for the urea and creatinine were negligible at current densities lower than 30 mA cm−2. As TOC abatement was also very small, it is possible that TeC oxidation leads to intermediate compounds. Thus, if current densities less than 20 mA cm−2 are applied, TeC can be selectively removed.