Comparing the electrochemical degradation of the fluoroquinolone antibiotics norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin using distinct electrolytes and a BDD anode: evolution of main oxidation byproducts and toxicity.

The effects of the supporting electrolytes (SEs) Na2SO4, NaCl, Na2CO3, NaNO3, and Na3PO4 on the anodic oxidation of norfloxacin (NOR) and ciprofloxacin (CIPRO), assessed by the respective degradation kinetics and byproducts and electrolyzed solution antimicrobial activity, are compared. Galvanostatic anodic oxidations were performed in a filter-press flow cell fitted with a boron-doped diamond anode. Removal rates higher than the theoretical one for a process purely controlled by mass transfer were found for all SEs, indicative of contribution by indirect oxidation processes. However, the removal rates for NaCl were about tenfold higher, with the lowest energy consumption per order (EC O) of targeted pollutant removal rate (ca. 0.7 kW h m-3 order-1), a very competitive performance. The TOC removal rates were also affected by the SE, but not as markedly. The antimicrobial activity of the electrolyzed solutions against Escherichia coli showed distinct temporal profiles, depending on the fluoroquinolone and SE. For instance, when Na3PO4 was used, the antimicrobial activity was completely removed for NOR, but none for CIPRO; conversely, when NaCl was used, complete removal was attained only for CIPRO. From LC-MS/MS analyses of Na3PO4 electrolyzed solutions, rupture of the fluoroquinolone ring leading to byproducts with no toxicity against E. coli occurred only for NOR, whereas exactly the opposite occurred for the NaCl solutions. Clearly, the nature of both the SE and the fluoroquinolone influence the oxidation steps of the respective molecule; this was also evidenced by the distinct short-chain carboxylic acids identified in the degradation of NOR and CIPRO.

Determination of bisphenol S, simultaneously to bisphenol A in different water matrices or solely in electrolyzed solutions, using a cathodically pretreated boron-doped diamond electrode.

A simple, accurate, and environmentally friendly method for the simultaneous determination of the analog endocrine disruptors bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol A (BPA) was developed and validated. The determination was performed by square-wave voltammetry using a cathodically pretreated boron-doped diamond (BDD) as the working electrode, with 0.1 mol L-1 H2SO4 as the supporting electrolyte. Under optimized conditions, a wide linear working range (R2 = 0.999) from 0.20 to 80.0 mg L-1 with a limit of detection (S/N = 3) of 0.060 mg L-1 was attained for BPS. For BPA, a linear correlation (R2 = 0.992) was attained from 0.10 to 50.0 mg L-1, with a limit of detection of 0.030 mg L-1. As far as we could ascertain, these are the lowest limits of detection and the widest linear ranges in the literature for this determination. The method was applied to the simultaneous determination of BPS and BPA in real water samples, with minimum sample preparation processes (dilution and acidification only). Excellent recovery values were achieved, ranging from 95 to 99%. Additionally, the method was successfully applied to the monitoring of the electrochemical degradation (anodic oxidation) of BPS using a recirculating flow system fitted with a BDD anode. The decay of [BPS] with time was also checked by an HPLC method, with results statistically similar to those obtained by the proposed electroanalytical method. Hence, the proposed method is a reliable, greener, and low-cost alternative to monitor simultaneously BPS and BPA in aquatic matrices or only BPS in wastewater treatment processes.

Electrochemical degradation of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin in a flow reactor using distinct BDD anodes: Reaction kinetics, identification and toxicity of the degradation products.

The performances of distinct BDD anodes (boron doping of 100, 500 and 2500 ppm, with sp3/sp2 carbon ratios of 215, 325, and 284, respectively) in the electrochemical degradation of ciprofloxacin - CIP (0.5 L of 50 mg L-1 in 0.10 M Na2SO4, at 25 °C) were comparatively assessed using a recirculating flow system with a filter-press reactor. Performance was assessed by monitoring the CIP and total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations, oxidation intermediates, and antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli as a function of electrolysis time. CIP removal was strongly affected by the solution pH (kept fixed), flow conditions, and current density; similar trends were obtained independently of the BDD anode used, but the BDD100 anode yielded the best results. Enhanced mass transport was achieved at a low flow rate by promoting the solution turbulence within the reactor. The fastest complete CIP removal (within 20 min) was attained at j = 30 mA cm-2, pH = 10.0, and qV = 2.5 L min-1 + bypass turbulence promotion. TOC removal was practically accomplished only after 10 h of electrolysis, with quite similar performances by the distinct BDD anodes. Five initial oxidation intermediates were identified (263 ≤ m/z ≤ 348), whereas only two terminal oxidation intermediates were detected (oxamic and formic acids). The antimicrobial activity of the electrolyzed CIP solution was almost completely removed within 10 h of electrolysis. The characteristics of the BDD anodes only had a marked effect on the CIP removal rate (best performance by the least-doped anode), contrasting with other data in the literature.

Optimization of the electrochemical degradation process of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin using a double-sided ß-PbO2 anode in a flow reactor: kinetics, identification of oxidation intermediates and toxicity evaluation.

The electrochemical degradation of ciprofloxacin-CIP (50 mg L-1 in 0.10 mol L-1 Na2SO4) was investigated using a double-sided Ti-Pt/ß-PbO2 anode in a filter-press flow reactor, with identification of oxidation intermediates and follow-up of antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli. The effect of solution pH, flow rate, current density, and temperature on the CIP removal rate was evaluated. All of these parameters did affect the CIP removal performance; thus, optimized electrolysis conditions were further explored: pH = 10, qV = 6.5 L min-1, j = 30 mA cm-2, and θ = 25 °C. Therefore, CIP was removed within 2 h, whereas ~75% of the total organic carbon concentration (TOC) was removed after 5 h and then, the solution no longer presented antimicrobial activity. When the electrochemical degradation of CIP was investigated using a single-sided boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode, its performance in TOC removal was similar to that of the Ti-Pt/ß-PbO2 anode; considering the higher oxidation power of BDD, the surprisingly good comparative performance of the Ti-Pt/ß-PbO2 anode was ascribed to significantly better hydrodynamic conditions attained in the filter-press reactor used with this electrode. Five initial oxidation intermediates were identified by LC-MS/MS and completely removed after 4 h of electrolysis; since they have also been determined in other degradation processes, there must be similarities in the involved oxidation mechanisms. Five terminal oxidation intermediates (acetic, formic, oxamic, propionic, and succinic acids) were identified by LC-UV and all of them (except acetic acid) were removed after 10 h of electrolysis.

The effect of the supporting electrolyte on the electrooxidation of enrofloxacin using a flow cell with a BDD anode: Kinetics and follow-up of oxidation intermediates and antimicrobial activity.

The role of the supporting electrolyte - SE (Na2SO4; NaCl; Na2CO3; NaNO3; Na3PO4 - 0.1 M ionic strength) in the galvanostatic (10 mA cm-2) electrochemical degradation of the fluoroquinolone antibiotic enrofloxacin (ENRO; 100 mg L-1) using a filter-press flow cell with a boron-doped diamond anode was investigated (flow rate, solution volume, and temperature were kept fixed at 420 L h-1, 1.0 L, and 25 °C, respectively). The electrochemical degradation performance with the different SEs was assessed by following up [ENRO], total organic carbon concentration (TOC), oxidation intermediates (detected by LC and LC-QqTOF), and antimicrobial activity towards Escherichia coli as the electrolyses progressed. With NaCl as SE, complete removal of ENRO was attained ∼10 times faster than with the other salts. The determination of terminal oxidation intermediates (short-chain carboxylic acids) produced during the electrolyses allowed concluding that their nature and number is indeed affected by the salt used as SE, most probably due to distinct electrogenerated oxidants. With NaCl, the antimicrobial activity of the electrolyzed solution decreased gradually (to ∼20%) from 8 to 16 h of electrolysis due to the cleavage of the fluoroquinolone structure. On the other hand, with Na2SO4, Na2CO3 and NaNO3 as SEs the growth of Escherichia coli cells was observed only after ∼14 h, whereas it was completely inhibited with Na3PO4. Clearly, the electrooxidation and mineralization of ENRO is strongly affected by the SEs used, which determine the degradation mechanism and, consequently, the removal rates of the solution's organic load and antimicrobial activity.

A new and simple method for the simultaneous determination of amoxicillin and nimesulide using carbon black within a dihexadecylphosphate film as electrochemical sensor.

The first electroanalytical method for the simultaneous determination of an important antibiotic (amoxicillin - AMX) and an anti-inflammatory drug (nimesulide -NIM), widely used in combination, is here proposed. In this method, a glassy carbon (GC) substrate modified with carbon black (CB) immobilized within a dihexadecylphosphate (DHP) film is used as electrochemical sensor (CB-DHP/GC). The electrochemical activity of this sensor was assessed (comparatively to that of GC) by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, using the [Fe(CN)6]3-/4- redox couple, when two different active electron transfer regions were clearly characterized. Using square-wave voltammetry and a 0.2molL-1 phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) as supporting electrolyte, a separation of ca. 180mV between the oxidation peak potentials of AMX and NIM was obtained with the novel CB-DHP/GC sensor, and the obtained detection limits for AMX and NIM were 0.12µmolL-1 and 0.016µmolL-1, respectively. This new electroanalytical method was successfully applied in the simultaneous determination of AMX and NIM in biological urine and environmental samples. The here-proposed method is of great analytical interest, as it is faster and cheaper than the only other method (based on HPLC) reported in the literature for the simultaneous determination of these drugs.

Selective and simultaneous determination of indigo carmine and allura red in candy samples at the nano-concentration range by flow injection analysis with multiple pulse amperometric detection.

A novel, unique electroanalytical method was developed for the simultaneous quantification of the dyes indigo carmine (IC) and allura red (AR) in candies by coupling flow injection analysis and multiple pulse amperometry with a cathodically pretreated boron-doped diamond electrode, using 0.30 mol L-1 H2SO4 as supporting electrolyte. A dual-potential waveform was employed, causing the electrooxidation of either IC solely or IC and AR simultaneously. Thence, subtraction of current signals was used to quantify IC and AR in the concentration ranges of 70.0-1000 nmol L-1 and 40.0-770 nmol L-1, with limits of detection of 40.0 nmol L-1 and 7.0 nmol L-1, respectively. The proposed method, which permits up to 153 determinations per hour with good precision, was successfully applied in the quantification of these dyes in samples of commercial candies; their obtained contents were similar (at a 95% confidence level) to those from a comparative HPLC method.

Electrodegradation of the Acid Green 28 dye using Ti/ß-PbO2 and Ti-Pt/ß-PbO2 anodes.

The statistical Response Surface Methodology (RSM) is applied to investigate the effect of different parameters (current density, j, NaCl concentration, [NaCl], pH, and temperature, θ) and their interactions on the electrochemical degradation of the Acid Green (AG) 28 dye using a Ti/ß-PbO2 or Ti-Pt/ß-PbO2 anode in a filter-press reactor. LC/MS is employed to identify intermediate compounds. For both anodes, the best experimental conditions are j = 50 mA cm(-2), [NaCl] = 1.5 g L(-1), pH = 5, and θ = 25 °C. After 3 h of electrolysis, a dye solution treated under these conditions presents the following parameters: electric charge per unit volume of the electrolyzed solution required for 90% decolorization (Q(90)) of 0.34-0.37 A h L(-1), %COD removal of ∼100%, specific energy consumption of 18-20 kW h m(-3), and %TOC removal of 32-33%. No loss of the ß-PbO2 film is observed during all the experiments. The ß-PbO2 films present excellent stability for solutions with pH ≥ 5 ([Pb(2+)] < 0.5 mg L(-1)). Chloroform is the only volatile organic halo compound present in the treated solution under those optimized conditions. Hydroxylated anthraquinone derivatives, aromatic chloramines, and naphthoquinones are formed during the electrolyses. The Ti/ß-PbO2 and Ti-Pt/ß-PbO2 anodes show significantly better performance than a commercial DSA anode for the electrochemical degradation of the AG 28 dye. The Ti/ß-PbO2 anode, prepared as described in this work, is an excellent option for the treatment of textile effluents because of its low cost of fabrication and good performance.

Structure, Electronic Properties, and Electrochemical Behavior of a Boron-Doped Diamond/Quartz Optically Transparent Electrode.

The morphology, microstructure, chemistry, electronic properties, and electrochemical behavior of a boron-doped nanocrystalline diamond (BDD) thin film grown on quartz were evaluated. Diamond optically transparent electrodes (OTEs) are useful for transmission spectroelectrochemical measurements, offering excellent stability during anodic and cathodic polarization and exposure to a variety of chemical environments. We report on the characterization of a BDD OTE by atomic force microscopy, optical spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopic mapping, alternating-current Hall effect measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electrochemical methods. The results reported herein provide the first comprehensive study of the relationship between the physical and chemical structure and electronic properties of a diamond OTE and the electrode's electrochemical activity.

Assessments of the Effect of Increasingly Severe Cathodic Pretreatments on the Electrochemical Activity of Polycrystalline Boron-Doped Diamond Electrodes.

The electrochemical response of many redox species on boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes can be strongly dependent on the type of chemical termination on their surface, hydrogen (HT-BDD) or oxygen (OT-BDD). For instance, on an HT-BDD electrode the [Fe(CN)6](3-/4-) redox system presents a reversible voltammetric behavior, whereas the oxidation overpotential of ascorbic acid (AA) is significantly decreased. Moreover, the electrochemical activity of BDD electrodes can be significantly affected by electrochemical pretreatments, with cathodic pretreatments (CPTs) leading to redox behaviors associated with HT-BDD. Here we report on the effect of increasingly severe CPTs on the electrochemical activity of a highly doped BDD electrode, assessed with the [Fe(CN)6](3-/4-) and AA redox probes, and on the atomic bonding structure on the BDD surface, assessed by XPS. The hydrogenation level of the BDD surface was increased by CPTs, leading to decreases of the total relative level of oxidation of the BDD surface of up to 36%. Contrary to what is commonly assumed, we show that BDD surfaces do not need to be highly hydrogenated to ensure that a reversible voltammetric behavior is obtained for Fe(CN)6](3-/4-); after a CPT, this was attained even when the total relative level of oxidation on the BDD surface was about 15%. At the same time, the overpotential for AA oxidation was confirmed as being very sensitive to the level of oxidation of the BDD surface, a behavior that might allow the use of AA as a secondary indicator of the relative atomic bonding structure on the BDD surface.

The analysis of estrogenic compounds by flow injection analysis with amperometric detection using a boron-doped diamond electrode.

We report on the use of flow injection analysis with amperometric detection (FIA-EC) to evaluate the potential of using diamond electrodes for the analysis of three estrogenic compounds: estrone, 17-ß-estradiol, and estriol. Amperometric detection was performed using a cathodically pretreated boron-doped diamond electrode that offered low background current, relatively low limits of detection, and good response reproducibility and stability. For all three compounds, response linearity was observed over the concentration range tested, 0.10 to 3.0µmol L(-1), the sensitivity was ca. 10mA L mol(-1), and the minimum concentration detection (S/N≥3) was 0.10µmol L(-1) (~27µg L(-1)). The response variability with multiple injections was ca. 10% (RSD) over 20 injections. For estrone, the oxidation reaction on diamond does not proceed through an adsorbed state like it does on glassy carbon. After an initial current attenuation, the diamond electrode exhibited a stable response (oxidation current) for 3 days of continuous use, indicative of minimal surface contamination or fouling by reaction intermediates and products. The method for estrone was assessed using spiked city tap and local river water. Estrone recoveries in spiked city and river water samples presented standard deviations of less than 10%. In summary, the FIA-EC method with a diamond electrode enables sensitive, reproducible, stable, quick, and inexpensive determination of estrogenic compounds in water samples.

Growth of aluminum-free porous oxide layers on titanium and its alloys Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-6Al-7Nb by micro-arc oxidation.

The growth of oxides on the surfaces of pure Ti and two of its ternary alloys, Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-6Al-7Nb, by micro-arc oxidation (MAO) in a pH 5 phosphate buffer was investigated. The primary aim was to form thick, porous, and aluminum-free oxide layers, because these characteristics favor bonding between bone and metal when the latter is implanted in the human body. On Ti, Ti-6Al-4 V, and Ti-6Al-7Nb, the oxides exhibited breakdown potentials of about 200 V, 130 V, and 140 V, respectively, indicating that the oxide formed on the pure metal is the most stable. The use of the MAO procedure led to the formation of highly porous oxides, with a uniform distribution of pores; the pores varied in size, depending on the anodizing applied voltage and time. Irrespective of the material being anodized, Raman analyses allowed us to determine that the oxide films consisted mainly of the anatase phase of TiO2, and XPS results indicated that this oxide is free of Al and any other alloying element.

High efficiencies in the electrochemical oxidation of an anthraquinonic dye with conductive-diamond anodes.

Oxidation of anthraquinonic dye Acid Blue 62 by electrolysis with conductive-diamond electrodes is studied in this work. COD, TOC, and color have been selected to monitor the degradation of the molecule as a function of several operating inputs (current density, pH, temperature, and NaCl concentration). Results show that the electrochemical oxidation of this model of large molecules follows a first order kinetics in all the conditions assessed, and it does not depend on the pH and temperature. The occurrence of chloride ions in wastewaters increases the rate of color and COD removal as a consequence of the mediated oxidation promoted by the chlorinated oxidizing species. However, chloride occurrence does not have an influence on the mineralization rate. First-order kinetic-constants for color depletion (attack to chromophores groups), oxidation (COD removal), and mineralization (TOC removal) were found to depend on the current density and to increase significantly with its value. A single model was proposed to explain these changes in terms of the mediated oxidation processes. Rate of mineralization remained very close to that expected for a purely mass transfer-controlled process. This was explained assuming that mediated oxidation does not have a significant influence on the mineralization in spite it has some effect on intermediate oxidation stages. The efficiency of the oxidation was found to depend mainly on the concentration of COD being negligible the effect of the other inputs assessed except for the occurrence of chloride ions. Opposite, the efficiency of mineralization depends on concentration of TOC and current density and it did not depend on the chloride occurrence. This observation was found to have an important influence on the power required to remove a given percentage of the initial TOC or COD. To decrease COD efficiently, the occurrence of chloride in the solution is very important, while to remove TOC efficiently, it is more important to work at low current densities and chloride effect is negligible. Energy consumption could be decreased by folds using the proper conditions.

Amorphous carbon nitride as an alternative electrode material in electroanalysis: simultaneous determination of dopamine and ascorbic acid.

Boron-doped diamond (BDD) films are excellent electrode materials, whose electrochemical activity for some analytes can be tuned by controlling their surface termination, most commonly either to predominantly hydrogen or oxygen. This tuning can be accomplished by e.g. suitable cathodic or anodic electrochemical pretreatments. Recently, it has been shown that amorphous carbon nitride (a-CNx) films may present electrochemical characteristics similar to those of BDD, including the influence of surface termination on their electrochemical activity toward some analytes. In this work, we report for the first time a complete electroanalytical method using an a-CNx electrode. Thus, an a-CNx film deposited on a stainless steel foil by DC magnetron sputtering is proposed as an alternative electrode for the simultaneous determination of dopamine (DA) and ascorbic acid (AA) in synthetic biological samples by square-wave voltammetry. The obtained results are compared with those attained using a BDD electrode. For both electrodes, a same anodic pretreatment in 0.1 mol L(-1) KOH was necessary to attain an adequate and equivalent separation of the DA and AA oxidation potential peaks of about 330 mV. The detection limits obtained for the simultaneous determination of these analytes using the a-CNx electrode were 0.0656 µmol L(-1) for DA and 1.05 µmol L(-1) for AA, whereas with the BDD electrode these values were 0.283 µmol L(-1) and 0.968 µmol L(-1), respectively. Furthermore, the results obtained in the analysis of the analytes in synthetic biological samples were satisfactory, attesting the potential application of the a-CNx electrode in electroanalysis.

Square-wave voltammetric determination of bezafibrate in pharmaceutical formulations using a cathodically pretreated boron-doped diamond electrode.

The determination of bezafibrate (BZF) using square-wave voltammetry (SWV) and a cathodically pretreated boron-doped diamond electrode is proposed. Cyclic voltammetry results showed one irreversible oxidation peak for BZF at 1.20 V (vs. Ag/AgCl (3.0 mol L(-1) KCl)) in a 0.04 mol L(-1) Britton-Robinson (BR) buffer solution (pH 2.0). Under optimized SWV conditions, a linear analytical curve is obtained for the BZF concentration range 0.10-9.1 µmol L(-1) in the BR buffer solution (pH 2.0), with a detection limit of 0.098 µmol L(-1). The obtained recoveries range from 93.4 to 108%. The proposed novel method was successfully applied in the determination of the BZF content in several pharmaceutical formulations (tablets) and the results are in close agreement (at a 95% confidence level) with those obtained using a comparative spectrophotometric method.

Flow injection simultaneous determination of synthetic colorants in food using multiple pulse amperometric detection with a boron-doped diamond electrode.

A single-line flow injection system and multiple pulse amperometric detection using a boron-doped diamond electrode were employed to develop and optimize a simple, low-cost, and rapid method for the simultaneous determination of two pairs of food colorants: tartrazine and sunset yellow (TT-SY) or brilliant blue and SY (BB-SY). A dual-potential waveform was used: E(det.1)=-150 mV (400 ms duration) and E(det.2)=-450 mV (100 ms duration) vs. Ag/AgCl (3.0 mol L(-1) KCl). Polarization at E(det.1) or E(det.2) causes reduction of SY or the respective pair of colorants, TT-SY or BB-SY; hence, with proper current correction, both colorants in each pair can be determined. The obtained linear response ranges (detection limits) were 5.0-60.0 (2.5) and 1.0-50.0 (0.80) µmol L(-1), for TT and SY, or 5.0-60.0 (3.5) and 1.0-50.0 (0.85) µmol L(-1), for BB and SY, respectively. Investigation of possible interferents (other food colorants or additives) showed no significant interference with the methods here proposed, which were then used to simultaneously determine the pairs of colorants in industrialized food samples, with results that showed good agreement with those obtained using a comparative HPLC method.

Simultaneous voltammetric determination of synthetic colorants in food using a cathodically pretreated boron-doped diamond electrode.

Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and a cathodically pretreated boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode were used to simultaneously determine two pairs of synthetic food colorants commonly found mixed in food products: tartrazine (TT) and sunset yellow (SY) or brilliant blue (BB) and sunset yellow (SY). In the DPV measurements using the BDD electrode, the reduction peak potentials of TT and SY or BB and SY were separated by about 150 mV. The detection limit values obtained for the simultaneous determination of TT and SY or BB and SY were 62.7 nmol L(-1) and 13.1 nmol L(-1) or 143 nmol L(-1) and 25.6 nmol L(-1), respectively. The novel proposed voltammetric method was successfully applied in the simultaneous determination of these synthetic colorants in food products, with results similar to those obtained using a HPLC method at 95% confidence level.

Electrochemical degradation of a real textile effluent using boron-doped diamond or ß-PbO2 as anode.

Constant current electrolyses are carried out in a filter-press reactor using a boron-doped diamond (Nb/BDD) or a Ti-Pt/ß-PbO(2) anode, varying current density (j) and temperature. The degradation of the real textile effluent is followed by its decolorization and chemical oxygen demand (COD) abatement. The effect of adding NaCl (1.5 g L(-1)) on the degradation of the effluent is also investigated. The Nb/BDD anode yields much higher decolorization (attaining the DFZ limit) and COD-abatement rates than the Ti-Pt/ß-PbO(2) anode, at any experimental condition. The best conditions are j = 5 mA cm(-2) and 55 °C, for the system's optimized hydrodynamic conditions. The addition of chloride ions significantly increases the decolorization rate; thus a decrease of more than 90% of the effluent relative absorbance is attained using an applied electric charge per unit volume of the electrolyzed effluent (Q(ap)) of only about 2 kA h m(-3). Practically total abatement of the effluent COD is attained with the Nb/BDD anode using a Q(ap) value of only 7 kA h m(-3), with an energy consumption of about 30 kW h m(-3). This result allows to conclude that the Nb/BDD electrode might be an excellent option for the remediation of textile effluents.

Preparation and characterization of biomimetically and electrochemically deposited hydroxyapatite coatings on micro-arc oxidized Ti-13Nb-13Zr.

Surface properties and corrosion resistance analyses of Ti-13Nb-13Zr coated by an oxide film (obtained by micro-arc oxidation at 300 V) or an oxide/hydroxyapatite (HA) film are reported. HA films were biomimetically or electrochemically deposited on the alloy/oxide surface, and their properties compared. Both the biomimetic and the electrochemical method yielded rough and globular apatite surfaces (10-20 µm globules for the former and 1-2 µm for the latter). As inferred from XRD data, the electrochemical method yielded more biologic-like HA films, while the biomimetic method yielded films containing a mixture of calcium phosphate phases. Coated Ti-13Nb-13Zr samples were immersed in an aerated PBS solution and continuously analyzed during 49 days. Considering that, after immersion, the biomimetically deposited films presented smaller variations in thickness and morphology and higher electric resistance (determined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy), they clearly provide significantly better protection to the Ti-13Nb-13Zr alloy when in PBS solution.