Complete degradation of the persistent anti-depressant sertraline in aqueous solution by solar photo-Fenton oxidationComplete degradation of the persistent anti-depressant sertraline in aqueous solution by solar photo-Fenton oxidation Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication Δημοσίευση σε Περιοδικό με Κριτές 2015-11-032014enSelective serotonin reuptake inhibitor sertraline is found to be one of the most persistent pharmaceutical drugs and it has been detected in effluents from wastewater treatment plants. This work evaluates the feasibility of homogeneous solar photo-Fenton oxidation for treating aqueous solutions containing sertraline. The influence of iron and H2O2 dosages was studied in order to optimize the reagents consumption. The beneficial role of simulated solar irradiation was noticeable and sertraline was readily oxidized; TOC removal up to 90% was achieved at a hydrogen peroxide dose as low as 40% of the stoichiometric amount for mineralization. Dechlorination was the first step of the proposed reaction pathway giving rise to the formation of by-products of much lower toxicity. Solar simulated photo-Fenton allowed reduction of the doses of iron and H2O2 needed, and therefore the main operating cost associated with this process, without compromising the quality of the effluent in terms of ecotoxicity. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology896814-818 Pliego Gema Xekoukoulotakis Nikos Ξεκουκουλωτακης Νικος Venieri Danai Βενιερη Δαναη Zazo Juan A. Casas Jose A. Rodriguez Juan J. Mantzavinos Dionysis Μαντζαβινος Διονυσης Society of Chemical Industry Solar photo-Fenton Sertraline Ecotoxicity Pathways