Anodic Fenton Treatment of Treflan MTF

Anodic Fenton Treatment (AFT) is a radical oxidation treatment process which generates highly reactive hydroxyl radicals via the Fenton reaction. The degradation of trifluralin, a widely used hydrophobic yet volatile dinitroaniline herbicide, was studied during AFT. Three different concentrations of trifluralin, as the emulsifiable concentrate Treflan MTF, were treated at three different concentrations and Fe2+:H2O2 delivery ratios. Each treatment, done in triplicate, involved electrochemical Fe2+ delivery from a sacrificial anode and H2O2 delivery via a peristaltic pump. Optimal treatment conditions of Fe2+:H2O2 delivery for the AFT of Treflan MTF were determined. Data were pooled for multiple regression analyses to determine whether first, second or third order models for degradation of trifluralin and formulation ingredients were appropriate. Trifluralin degraded partially and slowly with an optimal Fe2+:H2O2 delivery of 1:1 for 100 microM and 40 microM trifluralin solutions and 1:10 for 15 microM solutions. The trifluralin degradation data did not fit the regression models. However, the main formulation ingredient, compound X, degraded completely and rapidly with an optimal Fe2+:H2O2 delivery of 1:5 and with a first order rate of degradation.