Oxidação eletrolílitica por plasma como técnica de alta eficiência para degradação de fármacos

Abstract

The increasing detection of emerging contaminants in bodies of waters, particularly persistent pharmaceuticals such as Fluoxetine (FLX), Ofloxacin (OFX), and Diclofenac (DCF), represents a critical environmental challenge in Brazil. Conventional wastewater treatment plants exhibit low efficiency in removing these molecules, necessitating the development of advanced remediation technologies. This study aimed to investigate the potential of Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) as an Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) for the degradation of these compounds. The methodology involved applying the PEO process to solutions containing a mixture of these pharmaceuticals, utilizing plasma micro-discharges to promote chemical decomposition simultaneously with the formation of oxide films. The bibliographic results demonstrated high degradation capacity, with reduction rates exceeding 90% for Fluoxetine and 60% for Ofloxacin and Diclofenac within 60 minutes. Furthermore, a 57.3% reduction in Total Organic Carbon (TOC) was observed, indicating partial mineralization of the pollutants into CO2. It is concluded that the PEO technique is a promising, sustainable, and highly efficient alternative, capable of treating complex pharmaceutical residues without the need for additional external reagents, thereby contributing to the preservation of water resources.