1. Degradation of Propranolol by
Photocatalysis
Jorge I. Valentín† , Luis G. González†, Francisco Márquez PhD†
† School of Science and Technology, Turabo University, P.O. Box 3030, Gurabo, P.R.
00778. mr1valentine@hotmail.com, gonzalez_hernandez@yahoo.com
CONCLUSIONS
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
• Can be determined the variation in pH does not affect the degradation of
propranolol.
• These results support the optimal concentration of 0.7 g L-1 Titanium
Oxide.
• A decrease on solution volume shows better degradation yields.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
FUTURE INVESTIGATIONS
• Incorporation of concave panel to
intensify light.
• Usage of another TiO2 morphology
(i.e. rutile).
• Bring it to a industrial concept.
I would like to thank the
Department of Chemistry and
Physics of the University of
Turabo. I would also like to say
thank you to Nano Material
Laboratory 206 for their
exceptional research
assistance.
The Table 1 shows the percentage of degradation of Titanium oxide
with the variation of pH and Titanium Oxide concentration.
The Table 2 show the Propranolol Percentage of degradation adding
Hydrogen Peroxide. Also show the reaction reduction of volume,
400 ml to 200 ml.
Table 1
pH
Titanium Oxide Concentration (G
L-1)
0.7 0.9 1.1 1.3 1.5 1.7
6.3 30.0 36.2 39.8 36.9 43.0 37.0
6 33.4 41.5 37.0 44.4 42.5 42.9
5.5 31.5 40.5 36.0 42.3 42.0 40.0
5 32.8 40.4 36.1 43.0 42.0 34.0
4.5 31.8 38.9 38.6 42.9 42.0 35.0
4 35.0 41.2 36.0 38.5 43.0 43.0
ABSTRACT
Pharmaceuticals products are
manufactured worldwide to be
consumed by humans or animals. Wide
dissemination of these pharmaceuticals
at low concentrations are evident today
in the environment, especially in the
aquatic environment. Propranolol is a
nonselective b-blocker used as a
cardiovascular Active Pharmaceutical
Ingredients (API) for treatment of angina
pectoris, hypertension, and cardiac
arrhythmia. The effects of propranolol
on aquatics organisms have been
previously studied. The exposure of
mussels, fish and others aquatic life to
propranolol has been investigated.
These studies demonstrated adverse
effects like decrease in byssus strengths,
reduction on byssus thread abundance,
lower growth and decrease of
reproduction.
Titanium oxide (TiO2) is a n-type
semiconductor and a typical
photocatalyst, attracting much attention
from both fundamental and practical
viewpoints. The photocatalytic
mechanism of the photodegradation
process is affected by the light source
(irradiation energy), catalyst
concentration, and the presence of other
organic substances or ions in the
solution.
Considering that the
photocatalytic reaction takes place at the
surface of the catalyst, the affinity
between the catalyst and the
contaminant is transcendental. The
proximity or absorptivity between TiO2
and the pharmaceuticals is sublime for
the reaction in order to increase the
reaction rate in photocatalytic reactions.
Molecules with similar charge will be
repulse; where as opposite charge will
be attracted. On the basis that
photocatalysis reaction takes place at the
surface of the catalyst, any improvement
on propranolol and TiO2 adsorption will
increase the degradation of propranolol.
The goal of this research is to
study the ability of TiO2 to degrade
propranolol by photocatalytic reactions
in aqueous solution on different pH
ranges.
The results was analyzed
statistically showing that variation on pH
from 4 to 6.3 do not have significant
effects on propranolol degradation. The
variations on TiO2 concentration have a
significant effect on propranolol
degradation showing an optimal
concentration of 0.7 g L-1.
METHOD
Table 2
0.5 0.7 0.9 1.1 1.3
6.3 74.0 80.0 79.0 79.0 80.0
6 69.0 85.0 80.0 77.0 80.0
6.3 68 68 72 71 71
6 66 71 71 69 75
pH
TiO2 (g/L)
200ml
400ml
Volume