Ametryn degradation in the ultraviolet (UV) irradiation/hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treatment

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation (253.7nm) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) was used to decompose aqueous ametryn. The concentrations of ametryn were measured with time under various experiment conditions. The investigated factors included H(2)O(2) dosages, initial pH, initial ametryn concentrations, and a variety of inorganic anions. Results showed that ametryn degradation in UV/H(2)O(2) process was a pseudo-first-order reaction. Removal rates of ametryn were greatly affected by H(2)O(2) dosage and initial concentrations of ametryn, but appeared to be slightly influenced by initial pH. Furthermore, we investigated the effects of four anions (SO(4)(2-), Cl(-), HCO(3)(-), and CO(3)(2-)) on ametryn degradation by UV/H(2)O(2). The impact of SO(4)(2-) seemed to be insignificant; however, Cl(-), HCO(3)(-), and CO(3)(2-) considerably slowed down the degradation rate because they could strongly scavenge hydroxyl radicals (OH) produced during the UV/H(2)O(2) process. Finally, a preliminary cost analysis revealed that UV/H(2)O(2) process was more cost-effective than the UV alone in removal of ametryn from water.