Electro-Fenton oxidation of a β-lactam antibiotic cefoperazone: Mineralization, biodegradability and degradation mechanism.

Abstract Oxidation of a commonly-used β-lactam pharmaceutical, cefoperazone (CFPZ), was systematically investigated by anodic oxidation (AO), AO in presence of H2O2 electro-generation (AO-H2O2) and electro-Fenton (EF) processes with an activated carbon fiber cathode from the biodegradability viewpoint. The degradation and mineralization rates increased in a sequence of AO