Environmental risk control of florfenicol in water: From technology selection to mechanism discussion.

Florfenicol (FLO) is the most widely used veterinary antibiotic and has been detected frequently in various animal products and water bodies. Electrooxidation and electroreduction are effective strategies to eliminate halogenated environmental pollutants in water. In this work, SnO 2 -Sb 2 O 3 /Ti felt electrode and Pd/Ni foam electrode were used to treat FLO in water. The influence of water quality parameters on the removal efficiency of the two technologies was investigated, and the suitability of the two technologies was evaluated from the perspectives of energy consumption, stability, microbial inhibition and product toxicity. The experimental data show that both technologies can effectively remove FLO within 60 min, the energy consumption of oxidative degradation is 8.6 times that of reduction dehalogenation, and more toxic intermediate products are produced during the oxidation process. However, oxidative degradation process can realize the removal of microbial inhibition faster than the reduction dehalogenation process. Combined with UHPLC-Q EXACTIVE, the destruction of FLO main molecular structure and the substitution of F atoms are the key that weaken the antimicrobial properties of the degradation products. This work provides theoretical basis for the controllable treatment of halogenated antibiotics in water. [Display omitted] • FLO in water was treated by electrooxidation and electroreduction respectively. • The efficiency and interference factors of the two strategies were studied. • Both approaches can eliminate the antibacterial activity of FLO. • The potential antibacterial sites of FLO were identified via mass spectrometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]