Metoprolol is one of the most used pharmaceutical compounds around the world. Therefore, metoprolol and its metabolites can be detected in residuals waters. Since metoprolol has a complex chemical structure, it cannot be easily mineralized by traditional oxidation methods applied in wastewater treatment plants. Photocatalysis offers an alternative method to mineralize recalcitrant organic molecules. Therefore, the photocatalytic degradation of metoprolol with commercial TiO2 has been studied in our laboratories. Some of the experiments were carried out in a 250 mL glass batch reactor illuminated with four UV light lamps. High purity metoprolol was obtained from a commercial generic brand medicine by extraction with an organic solvent. HPLC and TOC analysis of the reaction samples indicated that metoprolol is easily degraded to other organic compounds.

Photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceutical compounds: The metoprolol case

244th National Meeting (2012)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.