Rapid degradation of sulfamethoxazole by permanganate combined with bisulfite: efficiency, influence factors and mechanism

ABSTRACT

In this study, permanganate combined with bisulfite (PM/BS), a novel advanced oxidation process, was used for rapidly removing sulfamethoxazole (SMX) from contaminated water. The results showed that 80% SMX was removed within 10 s in the PM/BS system, while no obvious SMX degradation was observed in the PM or BS alone system within 300 s. Reactive manganese species (RMnS, Mn(III), Mn(V) and Mn(VI)), sulfate radical (SO₄^•−) and hydroxyl radical (HO^•) formed in the PM/BS system all played a role in accelerated degradation of SMX. Due to the loss of RMnS, SMX degradation was significantly inhibited with the increase in pH. The best [BS]:[PM] ratio for SMX removal was 7.5:1-10:1. The presence of Cl⁻, HCO₃⁻ or natural organic matter (NOM) significantly inhibited the degradation of SMX, while SO₄²⁻ and NO₃⁻ had little impact on SMX removal. Based on the detected transformation products, two degradation pathways of SMX by PM/BS, namely N-S bond cleavage and amino oxidation, were proposed.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Permanganate
• bisulfite
• sulfamethoxazole
• reactive manganese species
• sulfate radical

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [Yiqing Liu], upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Sichuan Province Science and Technology Support Program [Grant Number 2021YJ0385].