Electrooxidation of favipiravir: Optimization by response surface management

The coronavirus epidemic, which emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2020 and spread all over the world and still continues today, poses a great risk in terms of environment and human health. Coronaviruses are single-stranded RNA viruses that reside in animals and humans. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS CoV-2) is the type of coronavirus that causes serious illness. During the epidemic, the Covid-19 drug, which was approved by the ministry, was used to help people who are sick to recover slightly. The active ingredient in Favicovir is the Favipiravir compound. Favipiravir is an antiviral drug used to combat influenza due to its influenza virus RNA polymerase inhibitory properties. Electro-oxidation is widely used in different studies as a highly effective treatment method. In the electro-oxidation process, in which many different electrodes are used, very good results have been obtained in recent years, especially in the removal of organics with boron doped diamond (BDD). The electrooxidation process is preferred for removal of the favipiravir compound. In this study, the refinability of the "Favipiravir" compound, the active ingredient of the Covid-19 drug Favicovir, was investigated by using the electrooxidation method and the activated form with the addition of BDD electrode and persulfate. Studies are optimized with RSM. In the case of using BDD electrodes, the optimum operating conditions are pH 3.4, current 0.8 A, and electrolysis time 98.7 minutes, while favipiravir removal efficiency is 98.5%. When persulfate activation was applied in electrooxidation with BDD, higher favipiravir removal efficiency was obtained in shorter electrolysis times. Optimum operating conditions were pH 3.6, current 1 A, persulfate concentration 0.5 mM, and electrolysis time 40 minutes, while favirpavir removal efficiency was 98.5%.