Electrochemical oxidation of tetracycline on a boron doped diamond electrode within the stability potentials of water.

Electrochemical oxidation of tetracycline on a boron doped diamond electrode within the stability potentials of water was studied in order to develop an approach for the purification of waste water containing medicinal agents. Cyclic voltammetry, HPLC, and high resolution mass spectrometry were used to establish that in the electrochemical oxidation process, tetracycline adds one oxygen atom to further form organic compounds with molecular weights higher than that of tetracycline. It was found that tetracycline in this region of potentials can be almost completely deactivated without its mineralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]