Application of pulse-modulated radio-frequency atmospheric pressure glow discharge for degradation of doxycycline from a flowing liquid solution

Doxycycline (DOX), an antibiotic commonly used in medicine and veterinary, is frequently detected in natural waterways. Exposition of bacteria to DOX residuals poses a selective pressure leading to a common occurrence of DOX-resistance genetic determinants among microorganisms, including virulent human pathogens. In view of diminishment of the available therapeutic options, we developed a continuous-flow reaction-discharge system generating pulse-modulated radio-frequency atmospheric pressure glow discharge (pm-rf-APGD) intended for DOX removal from liquid solutions. A Design of Experiment and a Response Surface Methodology were implemented in the optimisation procedure. The removal efficiency of DOX equalling 79 ± 4.5% and the resultant degradation products were identified by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Diode Array Detection, Liquid Chromatography Quadruple Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry, Ultraperformance Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, Attenuated Total Reflectance Furrier Transform–Infrared, and UV/Vis-based methods. The pm-rf-APGD-treated DOX solution due to the generated Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species either lost its antimicrobial properties towards Escherichia coli ATCC25922 or significantly decreased biocidal activities by 37% and 29% in relation to Staphylococcus haemolyticus ATCC29970 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25904, respectively. Future implementation of this efficient and eco-friendly antibiotic-degradation technology into wastewater purification systems is predicted.