Photocatalytic degradation is being investigated as an inexpensive and time-efficient method of degradation of active ingredients of unused prescription drugs prior to disposal. Fenofibrate, a water insoluble drug used to treat high cholesterol and high triglyceride (fatty acid) levels, was tested for efficiency of degradation using ultraviolet (UV) light, with and without catalyst. Samples were added to water and placed in a UV reactor at 254 nm, and concentration of fenofibrate determined by HPLC after various periods of time. Fenofibrate concentration decreased over time from 100 ppm to 18 ppm in 500 hours. Control samples kept in the dark were also analyzed over the same time period and did not show a decrease in concentration over the same time period. Samples containing hydrogen peroxide and/or titanium(IV) oxide were also evaluated under the same conditions to determine if the rate of degradation increases with these additives. Although the rate of degradation did appear to increase slightly in samples treated with hydrogen peroxide and/or titanium(IV) oxide, the concentration of fenofibrate never reached a non-detected level of &lt; 0.25 ppm in 7 days. Treated samples are also being evaluated on Microtox M500, an <i>in vitro</i> testing system which uses bioluminescent bacteria (<i>Vibrio fischeri</i>) to detect toxic substances in different substrates, such as water, air, soils, and sediments. The laboratory-based photometer will be used to monitor change in toxicity after treatment. Other pharmaceuticals, including water-soluble drugs, are currently being evaluated using the same procedures to determine if degradation can reach a non-detected concentration in a reasonable time (24 hours) with a corresponding decrease in toxicity.

Photocatalytic degradation of fenofibrate and other pharmaceuticals

255th National Meeting (2018)

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