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Epigenetic modifications in DNA are strongly linked to the triggering and development of pathophysiological disorders and cancer diseases. The halogenation of DNA via radical species, particularly the formation of 5-chlorocytosine (ClC), has recently emerged as epigenetic modification. This work deals for the first time with the exploration of the electrochemical behaviour of ClC on different carbon electrodes such as glassy carbon and boron-doped diamond using cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry. When comparing both carbon materials, the use of glassy carbon turned out to be the appropriate in terms of a more well-defined anodic wave and higher sensitivity. The electrochemical oxidation potential of ClC resulted to be linearly dependent on the pH with a maximum current intensity in acetic acid buffer solution under the conditions used. Moreover, a linear response between peak current intensity and ClC concentration was obtained within the range of 200 and 1000 µM with a limit of detection of 200 µM. In order to elucidate the reaction mechanism of the process, the main oxidation products after a preparative electrolysis were detected by HPLC-MS. Simultaneous detection of ClC in the presence of the unmodified cytosine and mixtures containing other nucleic bases such as guanine, adenine and thymine was also addressed. Finally, the effect of the halogen atom (X=F, Cl, Br) located at position C-5 of the cytosine entity upon the electrooxidation process was examined by theoretical calculations, too.

Different composites based on ZnO/Ag3PO4 and ZnO–malachite (Cu2(OH)2CO3) were synthesized in order to determine their effectiveness in the treatment of municipal and industrial wastewaters (mainly polluted by enteropathogenic bacteria, dyes, and heavy metals). The addition of Ag3PO4 and malachite did not significantly modify the physicochemical properties of ZnO; however, the optical properties of this oxide were modified as a result of its coupling with the modifiers. The modification of ZnO led to an improvement in its effectiveness in the treatment of municipal and industrial wastewater. In general, the amount of malachite or silver phosphate and the effluent to be treated were the determining factors in the effectiveness of the wastewater treatment. The highest degree of elimination of bacteria from municipal wastewater and discoloration of textile staining wastewater were achieved by using ZnO/Ag3PO4 (5%), but an increase in the phosphate content had a detrimental effect on the treatment. Likewise, the highest Fe and Cu photoreduction from coal mining wastewater was observed by using ZnO–malachite (2.5%) and ZnO/Ag3PO4 (10%), respectively. Some of the results of this work were presented at the fourth Congreso Colombiano de Procesos Avanzados de Oxidación (4CCPAOx).