Study of the photoinduced transformations of sertraline in aqueous media

In the present study, photoinduced degradation of antidepressant drug sertraline under artificial solar radiation was examined. Photolysis studied different experimental conditions to explore its photolytic fate in aqueous environment. Photolytic kinetics were carried out ultrapure water, wastewater effluent, as well presence dissolved organic matter (humic acids), bicarbonate and nitrate ions which enabled their assessment on photo-transformation. The reaction with photoactive compounds accelerated transformation comparison direct photolysis. Moreover, TiO2-mediated photocatalytic investigated, focus placed identification by-products. As expected, photocatalysis extremely effective for degradation. Photocatalytic proceeded through formation forty-four products identified by HPLC-HRMS after 240 min irradiation total mineralization achieved. Microtox bioassay (Vibrio fischeri) employed assess ecotoxicity photocatalysis-treated solutions results have indicated that photo-transformation proceeds toxic compounds.