Boron-doped diamond oxidation of amoxicillin pharmaceutical formulation: Statistical evaluation of operating parameters, reaction pathways and antibacterial activity

The antibiotic activity of AMX up to 1000 mg/L was tested against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterococcus faecalis reference strains; both bacteria are completely inactivated at this concentration but the activity is reduced substantially at lower concentrations. Oxidized samples still exhibit some antibacterial activity (50-60%) which is due to TBPs and active chlorine species present in the liquid phase. The latter are generated from chloride ions and enhance considerably AMX degradation rates.