Oxidation of acetovanillone by photochemical processes and hydroxyl radicals

Acetovanillone [Ethanone, 1-(4-hydroxy-3-metoxyphenyl)] is one of the major pollutants that is present in the wastewater produced during the boiling of raw material in the cork industry. The oxidation of its aqueous solutions by monochromatic UV radiation alone and combined with hydrogen peroxide, Fenton's reagent and the photo-Fenton system has been investigated. In the single UV radiation process, the apparent rate constants and the quantum yields are determined, and in the UV/H2O2 combination, the additional efficiency in the oxidation process due to the presence of hydrogen peroxide is established. The influence of some operating variables, such as initial concentrations of H2O2 and Fe(II), as well as the pH, is discussed in the Fenton and photo-Fenton systems, and the partial contribution of the radical pathways to the global oxidation rates are evaluated. The rate constant for the reaction of acetovanillone with hydroxyl radicals is also determined by means of a competition kinetics model, its value being 5.62 x 10(9) M(-1)s(-1). Finally, chemical oxidation experiments of wastewaters generated in this industry were carried out by using the same advanced oxidation processes. Specifically, the elimination of acetovanillone in these effluents was determined, and the removal of the global organic pollutant content was also evaluated.