Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5599/jese.2824
Integrated bio-electro-Fenton approach for efficient removal of the antiviral sofosbuvir in aqueous medium: kinetics, parameters optimization, mineralization pathway, and biodegradability enhancement
Abdelkader Zarrouk
; Laboratory of Materials, Nanotechnology and Environment, Mohammed V University, Faculty of Science, 4Av. ibn Battuta, B.P. 1014 Rabat, Morocco
*
Amine Asserghine
; Laboratory of Materials, Nanotechnology and Environment (LMNE), Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University, PO. Box. 1014, Agdal, Rabat, Morocco
Clément Trellu
; Laboratoire Géomatériaux et Environnement (LGE), EA 4508, Université Gustave Eiffel, 77454 Marne-la-Vallée, Cedex 2, France
Miloud El Karbane
; Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and Bromatology (LCAB), Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Mohammed V, Rabat, Morocco
Fouad Echerfaoui
; Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and Bromatology (LCAB), Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Mohammed V, Rabat, Morocco
Ghizlan Kaichouh
; Laboratory of Materials, Nanotechnology and Environment (LMNE), Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University, PO. Box. 1014, Agdal, Rabat, Morocco
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
The accumulation of antiviral drugs, such as sofosbuvir (SOF), in aquatic environments raises growing concerns due to their persistence and potential ecological risks. This study addresses the need for effective degradation strategies by investigating the homogeneous electro-Fenton (EF) process in a Pt/carbon felt cell for the degradation and mineralization of SOF in an aqueous medium. A Box-Behnken design (BBD) was employed to optimize key operational parameters, including initial Fe2+ concentration, current intensity, and initial SOF concentration, targeting chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal as the main response. The model showed excellent predictability (R2 = 0.99), and the optimal conditions were identified as 400 mA current intensity, CSOF-0 = 0.1 mM, and CFe2+-0 = 0.1 mM. Under these conditions, 97% of SOF was degraded within 5 min, while complete mineralization was achieved within 5 h. Biodegradability tests revealed an increase in the BOD5/COD ratio to 0.41 after 2 h of electrolysis, indicating that the EF process can be effectively coupled with a biological treatment. The combined bio-electro-Fenton (bio-EF) approach successfully achieved complete mineralization, offering a cost-effective and sustainable strategy for the removal of recalcitrant pharmaceutical pollutants from water.
Keywords
Degradation; Box-Behnken design; hydroxyl radicals; biological treatment
Hrčak ID:
339944
URI
Publication date:
29.9.2025.
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