Heterogeneous photocatalytic TiO 2 process was selected to study the degradation of the pharmaceutical pollutants sulfamethoxazole and ibuprofen. TiO 2 is wide available, relatively cheap and non-toxic. In water treatment applications, the organic oxidation by means of TiO 2 is achieved by hydroxyl radical generation through the e - /h + pair generated when TiO 2 is exposed to UV irradiation. Heterogeneous photocatalytic TiO 2 process was selected to study the degradation of the pharmaceutical pollutants sulfamethoxazole and ibuprofen. TiO 2 is wide available, relatively cheap and non-toxic. In water treatment applications, the organic oxidation by means of TiO 2 is achieved by hydroxyl radical generation through the e - /h + pair generated when TiO 2 is exposed to UV irradiation. PHOTOCATALYTIC TREATMENT OF SULFAMETHOXAZOLE AND IBUPROFEN, TiO 2 MEDIATED, WITH UV AND SOLAR RADIATION TiO 2 MEDIATED, WITH UV AND SOLAR RADIATION F. Méndez-Arriaga, M.N. Abellan, B. Bayarri, J. Gimenez and S. Esplugas Departamento de Ingeniería Química. Facultad de Química. Universidad de Barcelona. C/ Martí I Franquès, Barcelona. Spain. Phone FAX HPLC was employed to monitor the concentration of the compounds (IBP, ACN-H 2 O 80-20; SMX, ACN-H 2 O 60-40). The mineralization was calculated by means of a Shimadzu TOC analyzer. Standard Methods to measure COD and BOD 5 were used to evaluate the final biodegradability of the treated water. HPLC was employed to monitor the concentration of the compounds (IBP, ACN-H 2 O 80-20; SMX, ACN-H 2 O 60-40). The mineralization was calculated by means of a Shimadzu TOC analyzer. Standard Methods to measure COD and BOD 5 were used to evaluate the final biodegradability of the treated water. Experimental data fit well first order kinetics with regards to TOC concentration (r=k.c TOC ). Kinetic equation can be improved by introducing the radiation absorbed by the catalyst (F abs,cat ), estimated by actinometric experiments, and the reactor volume (V R ), being k’ less dependent on the catalyst concentration and the installation employed, which is more useful in the scaling-up. OBJECTIVES Study of photocatalytic treatment for decontamination of sulfamethoxazole and ibuprofen. Influence of parameters: TiO 2 loading, drug initial concentration, pH, etc, on degradation and mineralization rate. Description by kinetic models. Scale up and real solar irradiation. Radiation influence in kinetic equation. CONCLUSIONS Experimental data fit good enough a first kinetic order in relation to TOC. INTRODUCTION Recently the pharmaceutical emerging pollutants are an increasing concern. Their presence in rivers, lakes, wastewaters, etc has been detected in the last years. Nowadays concentrations are in the range of  g/L, however the increase in the human consumption implies an increasing in their presence in waters in the next future. By using conventional biological reactors, the removal of drugs is not efficient due their low biodegradability and high toxicity. High production Pharmaceuticals High consumption Human High pollution Water Photocatalysis with TiO 2 is a promising technique in the treatment of two emerging pollutants: sulfamethoxazole and ibuprofen. Fitting can be improved by introducing parameters related to the radiation absorbed and reactor volume. The intrinsic constant depends not strong on the TiO 2 concentration, radiation source or treated volume. EXPERIMENTAL Experiments with sulfamethoxazole and ibuprofen were carried out in the laboratory in a solarbox (Xe Lamp XOP-15-OF, 1000 W) with tubular reactors (26 cm length and 1.95 cm diameter), made in Pyrex glass, in the case of sulfamethoxazole, and in Duran glass, in the case of ibuprofen. The reactors were located at the bottom of the solarbox in the axis of the corresponding parabolic mirrors. For ibuprofen, experiments were also carried out by using solar radiation. The reactors were the same used previously in the laboratory and additionally, a new reactor made in quartz (100 cm length and 4 cm diameter). They were located in the axis of parabolic mirrors (120 and 2500 cm 2, respectively) inclined 41º (latitude of Barcelona) and oriented to South. Acknowledgements: Authors would like to thank the financial support of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (CTQ /PPQ and CTQ /PPQ) and to the University of Barcelona for the predoctoral fellowships to F. Méndez-Arriaga and M.N. Abellán. RESULTS: Concerning sulfamethoxazole degradation, the best results were obtained for initial concentrations of 50 ppm, since 100% of the drug was removed, and TOC was reduced in 60%, after 6 hours of irradiation. In the case of ibuprofen, for an initial concentration of 200 ppm, drug was eliminated in a 70% and TOC was reduced in a 40% after 4 hours of irradiation. Regarding the biodegradability, the maximum value reached for the BOD 5 /COD ratio was 0.23 for sulfamethoxazole, and 0.16 for IBP. In the case of ibuprofen, for an initial concentration of 200 ppm, drug was eliminated in a 70% and TOC was reduced in a 40% after 4 hours of irradiation. Regarding the biodegradability, the maximum value reached for the BOD 5 /COD ratio was 0.23 for sulfamethoxazole, and 0.16 for IBP.