Ecotoxicity assessment of amoxicillin degradation product in aqueous media after photochemical process

Abstract Amoxicillin can have adverse effects on non-target bacteria in aquatic environments, causing disruption to the balance of aquatic ecosystems and promoting the emergence of antibiotic resistance. The Advanced Oxidation Process, namely UV/H 2 O 2 , is a promising method for the degradation of antibiotics such as amoxicillin due to its effectiveness. However, the degradation products might have ecotoxic potential and have not been studied; therefore, this study aims to evaluate the ecotoxicity of amoxicillin degradation using UV/H 2 O 2 . The in silico study was conducted using ECOSAR to theoretically assess the ecotoxicity of the ensuing transformation products on aquatic organisms. The ECOSAR calculations offer an early assessment of the possible hazard of amoxicillin degradation products in the aquatic environment. The research result shows that overall degradation products from the UV/H 2 O 2 approach are not harmful in ecotoxicity, although some by-products still possess ecotoxic potential. Moreover, the findings of this study suggest that the mineralization level of amoxicillin degradation by-products is relatively low due to the production of hazardous compounds resistant to hydroxyl radical attack. This study highlights the necessity for a more comprehensive understanding of the by-products produced by the degradation process of amoxicillin using UV/H 2 O 2 and their influence on aquatic ecosystems.