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Water Purification Using Choline-Amino Acid Ionic Liquids: Removal of Amoxicillin
Pedro Velho1,2, Catarina Lopes1,2, Eugénia A Macedo1,2
1LSRE-LCM-Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering-Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
Abstract:
Antibiotics are the main active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for the treatment and prevention (prophylaxis) of bacterial infections, for which they are essential for health preservation. However, depending on the target bacterial strain, an efficient treatment may imply weeks of continuous intake of antibiotics, whose unmetabolized fraction ends up in the wastewater system by human and animal excreta. The presence of these chemical compounds in wastewater is known to damage aquatic ecosystems and cause antibiotic resistance of pathogenic agents, which threatens the future application of these medicines. Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs), an emergent extraction technology for biomolecules such as proteins and vitamins, could provide more eco-friendly and cost-effective extractive alternatives given their nontoxicity and low energetic requirements. Moreover, choline-amino acid ([Ch][AA]) ionic liquids (also known as CAAILs or ChAAILs) are considered one of the greenest classes of ionic liquids due to their favorable biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ease of chemical synthesis. In this work, partition studies of amoxicillin were performed in three ATPSs containing dipotassium hydrogen phosphate (K2HPO4) and the CAAILs (cholinium l-alaninate, [Ch][Ala]; cholinium glycinate, [Ch][Gly]; and cholinium serinate, [Ch][Ser]) at 298.15 K and 0.1 MPa. To better characterize the extract and reduce errors in quantification, the effect of pH on the intensity and stability of the UV-vis spectra of amoxicillin was studied prior to the partition studies, and computational chemistry was used to validate the molecular structure of the synthesized ionic liquids. During experimental determinations, it was observed that the extraction of amoxicillin was favored by less polar ionic liquids, achieving maximum partition coefficients (K) and extraction efficiencies (E) of K = (16 ± 6)·101 and E / % = 97 ± 2, respectively, for {[Ch][Gly] (1) + K2HPO4 (2) + Water (3)} in the longest tie-line.
Insights
Antibiotic residues in wastewater pose environmental risks. This study explores using eco-friendly aqueous two-phase systems with choline-amino acid ionic liquids for efficient amoxicillin extraction, achieving 97% efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Green Chemistry
- Separation Science
Background:
- Antibiotics are crucial for treating bacterial infections but their unmetabolized forms contaminate wastewater, harming aquatic ecosystems and promoting antibiotic resistance.
- Conventional wastewater treatment methods struggle to remove these persistent pharmaceutical pollutants effectively.
- Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) offer a promising, eco-friendly alternative for extracting biomolecules and pharmaceuticals due to their low toxicity and energy requirements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of novel aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) utilizing choline-amino acid ionic liquids (CAAILs) for the extraction of amoxicillin from aqueous solutions.
- To evaluate the influence of different CAAILs and system parameters on amoxicillin partitioning.
- To establish a cost-effective and environmentally benign method for removing amoxicillin from wastewater.
Main Methods:
- Partitioning studies of amoxicillin were conducted in three ATPSs composed of dipotassium hydrogen phosphate and specific CAAILs ([Ch][Ala], [Ch][Gly], [Ch][Ser]) at 298.15 K and 0.1 MPa.
- The effect of pH on amoxicillin's UV-vis spectra was analyzed to optimize quantification.
- Computational chemistry was employed to validate the molecular structures of the synthesized ionic liquids.
Main Results:
- Amoxicillin extraction efficiency was enhanced in ATPSs featuring less polar ionic liquids.
- The {[Ch][Gly] + K2HPO4 + Water} system demonstrated superior performance, achieving a maximum partition coefficient (K) of (16 ± 6)·10^1 and an extraction efficiency (E) of 97 ± 2%.
- The study confirmed the potential of CAAIL-based ATPS for effective amoxicillin removal.
Conclusions:
- Choline-amino acid ionic liquid-based ATPS are highly effective for extracting amoxicillin, offering a green and efficient alternative to conventional methods.
- The choice of ionic liquid polarity significantly impacts extraction efficiency, with less polar options yielding better results.
- This research provides a sustainable approach to mitigate pharmaceutical pollution in wastewater, safeguarding aquatic environments and preserving antibiotic efficacy.
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