An Ultrasound-Fenton Process for the Degradation of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene

2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT), one of the main compounds in ammunition wastewater, is harmful to the environment. In this study, the treatment efficiency of 2,4,6-TNT by different treatment processes, including ferrous ion (Fe²⁺), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), Fenton, ultrasound (US) irradiation, US + Fe²⁺, US + H₂O₂ and US-Fenton process, was compared. The results showed that US-Fenton was the most effective among all methods studied. The effects of initial pH, reaction time and H₂O₂ to Fe²⁺ molar ratio were investigated. The results showed that the removal of TNT, TOC and COD was maximum at an initial pH of 3.0 and H₂O₂ to Fe²⁺ molar ratio of 10:1. TNT, TOC and COD removal was fast in the first 30 min, reaching 83%, 57% and 50%, then increased gradually to 99%, 67% and 87% until 300 min, respectively. Semi-batch mode operation increased the removal of TNT and TOC by approximately 5% and 10% at 60 min, respectively. The average carbon oxidation number (ACON) was increased from -1.7 at 30 min to a steady-state value of 0.4, indicating the mineralization of TNT. Based on GC-MS analysis, 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene acid, 3,5-dinitrobenznamine and 3,5-dinitro-p-toluidine were the major byproducts from the US-Fenton process. The TNT degradation pathway was proposed, which involved methyl group oxidation, decarboxylation, aromatic ring cleavage and hydrolysis.