Photocatalytic mineralization of glyphosate in a small-scale plug flow simulation reactor by UV/TiO2

The present work involves the photocatalytic mineralization of glyphosate on a plug flow reactor by UV/TiO(2). The effect of catalyst loading shows an optimal value (0.4 g L(-1)) which is necessary to mineralize glyphosate. The kinetic rate of glyphosate mineralization decreases with the increasing initial concentration of glyphosate, and the data can be described using the first-order model. An alkaline environment is conducive to glyphosate mineralization. The mineralization efficiency increases with elevated flow rate to 114 mL min(-1), which is followed by a decrease with a further increase in flow rate due to the reduction of the residence time. The presence of external oxidants (K(2)S(2)O(8), H(2)O(2) and KBrO(3)) and photosencitizer (humic acid) can significantly enhance glyphosate mineralization. Photocatalysis oxidation ability of the three studied oxidants decrease in the order of: S(2)O(8)(2-) > BrO(3)(-) > H(2)O(2). Finally, the Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) model was used to rationalize the mechanisms of reactions occurring on TiO(2) surfaces and L-H model constants were also determined.