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Published on: May 21, 2019
Fenton's oxidation of pentachlorophenol.
Julio A Zimbron1, Kenneth F Reardon
1Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1370, USA.
Water Research
|March 3, 2009
Summary
Fenton
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Oxidation Processes
Background:
- Fenton's reaction (H2O2 and Fe(II)) degrades organics via hydroxyl radicals.
- Limited data links hydroxyl radical generation to organic degradation kinetics.
- Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a persistent organic pollutant.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate PCP degradation kinetics and stoichiometry in Fenton's reaction.
- Identify PCP degradation intermediates.
- Develop a mathematical model for the reaction system.
Main Methods:
- Batch reaction experiments with varying H2O2 concentrations.
- Analysis of reactants, intermediates, and products.
- Kinetic modeling incorporating hydroxyl radical scavenging.
Main Results:
- Partial PCP degradation and near-stoichiometric dechlorination at low H2O2.
- Limited dechlorination (max 70%) despite complete PCP degradation at higher H2O2.
- Identified tetrachlorohydroquinone and dichloromaleic acid as intermediates.
- No organic carbon mineralization observed.
- Model reasonably predicted experimental outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Fenton's reaction efficacy for PCP degradation is H2O2 dose-dependent.
- Dechlorination is incomplete, with significant organic intermediates formed.
- A kinetic model can predict PCP degradation under varying conditions.
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