Photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceuticals is being evaluated to determine if it could be used as a practical method of disposal as an alternative to incineration. Unused prescription drugs in the household are often disposed of in the garbage or down the sewer, which can lead negative impacts on the environment. Leaving them undisposed leads to the potential for misuse and abuse. Photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceuticals in ultraviolet (UV) light is a promising alternative for proper disposal. Photocatalytic degradation of several drugs, including 4-hydroxy-3-(3-oxo-1-phenylbutyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (warfarin), are being evaluated. Degradation of warfarin in water and in methanol, with and without catalysts, was previously evaluated and was found to take more than a week, which is not practical. Degradation of the drug as a solid in UV light with no solvent is currently being evaluated, as well as in water with the addition of acid or base to determine if the rate of degradation can be increased. All degradation rates are compared with controls with no UV exposure. High Performance Liquid Chromatography is being used to analyze the concentration of drug remaining in the solutions over time. The degradation rate of dry, ground warfarin when exposed to 254 nm UV light did not improve over the rate when warfarin in water or in methanol was exposed to UV. Toxicity of the solutions to bioluminescent bacteria before and after the solutions are exposure to UV light is being evaluated with the use of Microtox®. Similar evaluations for other types of prescription drugs, including opioids, is also being evaluated.

Photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceuticals in acid and base solutions

2019 Spring National Meeting

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