Photochemical degradation of sulfadiazine

The photochemical degradation of the sulfadiazine (SDZ) was studied. The photochemical processes used in degradation of SDZ were UV and UV/H ₂O₂. In the experiments hydrogen peroxide was applied at different concentrations: 10 mg/dm³ (2.94*10^-4 M), 100 mg/dm³ (2.94*10^-3 M), 1 g/dm³ (2.94*10^-2 M) and 10 g/dm³ (2.94*10 ^-1 M). The concentrations of SDZ during the experiment were controlled by means of HPLC. The best results of sulfadiazine degradation, the 100% removal of the compound, were achieved by photolysis using UV radiation in the presence of 100 mg H₂O₂/dm³ (2.94*10^-3 M). The determined rate constant of sulfadiazine reaction with hydroxyl radicals k_OH was equal 1.98*10 ⁹ M^-1s^-1.