Speaker
Description
Trajce Trajkov, Nina Kaneva
Laboratory of Nanoparticle Science and Technology, Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Sofia, 1 James Bourchier Blvd., 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria
*Corresponding author’s e-mail: trajce_trajkov11@hotmail.com
Cephalexin is an organic compound and an antibiotic that often pollutes the environment and needs to be removed. It is commonly found in hospital waste, agricultural runoff, and drinking water. Because it does not decompose easily, removal is necessary. The most effective and environmentally friendly method for removing Cephalexin is tribocatalysis, which is a self-powered process that requires neither light nor heat. It relies solely on mechanical energy generated by rubbing the catalyst on the surface of the Cephalexin. The degradation rate of Cephalexin varies depending on the solvent used. From tribocatalytic tests, it is evident that using methanol as a solvent in the sol-gel synthesis of ZnO for Cephalexin degradation is more efficient, achieving 73% degradation, compared to ethanol, which reaches a maximum efficiency of 58%. Both tests used a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) beaker. Additionally, increasing the rotations of the magnetic stirrer can improve degradation; more rotations create friction between the PTFE beaker and the catalyst, leading to increased electron absorption by the beaker and the formation of more positive holes on the catalyst, which enhances the oxidation of Cephalexin. Tribocatalysis is a relatively new and promising method for oxidatively removing pollutants. It provides an environmentally friendly solution by converting mechanical energy into chemical energy for pollutant degradation.
Keywords: Tribocatalysis, ZnO, Cephalexin, degradation
Acknowledgment: Nina Kaneva is grateful to be financially supported by the Bulgarian NSF project KP-06-N89/07 (КП-06-Н89/07).
