Degradation of trimethoprim by sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation processes: kinetics, mechanisms, and effects of natural water matrices

In this study, we investigated the removal efficiency of a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent trimethoprim (TMP) in a UV-activated persulfate system (UV/PS). The pseudo-first-order reaction kinetic model based on the steady-state hypothesis was used to explain TMP degradation behavior in UV-activated persulfate system. Due to the low quantum yield and molar absorptivity of TMP at 254 nm, the direct photolysis of TMP was slower. Since the free radicals generated by adding H2O2 or PS to the system can react with TMP, the degradation rate was significantly accelerated, and[Formula: see text] played a dominant role in the UV/PS system. [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] were determined by the pseudo-first-order reaction kinetic model to be 6.02×109 and 3.88×109 M-1s-1, respectively. The values were consistent with competitive kinetic measurements. The pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics model can predict and explain the effect of PS concentration, natural organic matter, and chloride ion on the TMP degradation in the UV/PS system. The observed pseudo first-order rate constants for TMP degradation (kobs) increased with the persulfate concentration, but it significantly decreased in the presence of NOM and chloride. [Formula: see text] has no effect on the degradation of TMP, while [Formula: see text] promotes the degradation and [Formula: see text] inhibits the degradation. The common transition metal ion (such as Cu2+, Zn2+, and Co2+) in industrial wastewater has a synergistic effect on the TMP degradation in the UV/PS system, but excessive metal ions will lead to a decrease of the degradation rate.